A man has denied causing at least £11,500 of damage to five mosques that had their doors and windows smashed on the same day.

Arman Rezazadeh, 34, appeared at Birmingham magistrates court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to five charges of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage committed on 21 March.

A district judge was told the charges related to damage to the Witton Islamic Centre, the al-Habib Trust, and the Jamia Masjid Ghausia, all in the Aston area, as well as the Masjid Madrassa Faizul Islam in Perry Barr and the Jam-E-Masjid Qiblah Hadhrat Sahib Gulhar Shareef in Erdington.

Rezazadeh, of Handsworth in Birmingham, spoke only to indicate his pleas, state his address and confirm his nationality as Iranian.

An application to withhold his address from publication was withdrawn by his solicitor after legal submissions.

The defendant was granted bail to appear at Birmingham crown court for a further hearing on 10 October.