A market trader from Keighley who scrawled religious graffiti on a traffic cone has been ordered to pay the police £4.90 in compensation.

Adnan Mumtaz Ahmed pleaded guilty at Skipton Magistrates' Court on Friday to writing "Islamic Army of Iraq. Media Rep" on the cone, on Saturday, February 2.

Prosecuting, Alison Whiteley said at around 12.45pm on that day two witnesses were sitting in the Red Lion public house, in Skipton High Street.

"They were looking out of the window and saw the accused. He was working on a market stall selling socks and was seen to pick up a police no-waiting cone.

"Ahmed was seen to be writing on the cone with a black marker pen. The police were called and the cone was seized. The cone needed specialised detergent to remove the wording."

She added Ahmed, 26, of Skipton Road, Keighley, was taken to Skipton Police Station but would not make any comment.

He also did not speak when his father arrived and the police charged him with criminal damage.

In mitigation, Glen Maude said her client was suffering from depression and had been taking prescribed medication from his doctor at the time of the incident. A letter from his GP confirmed his medical history.

"He is a young man with no previous convictions and has a degree in surveying. He has spoken about doing a Phd but in the meantime has been earning about £50 a week working on the family clothing stall on Skipton market.

"He cannot explain why he wrote this on the cone and if he had done so at the station he would probably have been given a fixed penalty notice or a caution. The fact he did not comment is the reason he is here today."

Magistrates gave Ahmed a conditional discharge for six months and ordered him to pay court costs of £43.