Man arrested in connection with homophobic leaflet distribution

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

An arrest has been made in connection with a series of leaflets distributed across the UK containing homophobic statements including comparing homosexuality to paedophilia.

It was just one of a string of areas where similar leaflets have been distributed, also surfacing in Cambridge in April, in Brighton last month, in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this month, and in Lincoln and Leicestershire last week.

Conservative MP of Chester Stephen Mosley, who voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, commented saying: “People are, of course, entitled to their opinions.”

Cheshire police, working with Northamptonshire Police have confirmed that a 53-year-old man was arrested earlier today, and remains in custody.

Police say the man are cooperating with the investigation.

The leaflets, which describe “homosexalism” as a “cult,” were posted through letter boxes ahead of Chester city’s Pride event on Saturday.

A Northamptonshire police spokesman told PinkNews that, after the man had allegedly been operating in Cheshire, police there contacted colleagues in Northamptonshire and requested that the man be arrested.

Previously to Lancashire police, “no offences have been committed, although we do recognise that some people may have found the content offensive and upsetting.”

Police in Leicester gave a similar response last week, saying “no criminal offence had been committed and the case was therefore closed.”

Additionally, while a man distributing the leaflets was spoken to by police earlier this month in Stoke-on-Trent, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to take action.