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A man put stickers on food at Sainsbury's which said "Beware! Halal is barbaric and funds terrorism" - but has denied they were racist.

Liam Gary Edwards, 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage today after the stickers were discovered at a store in Salford, Greater Manchester.

But he denied a more serious charge of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Prosecutors refused to accept his plea and he will face a trial over the more serious charge later this year.

The round red stickers, carrying the hashtag #BanHalal, were discovered on meat packages and equipment at the store in Ordsall on February 18.

(Image: @Bad_Sweary_Frog)

Edwards, who lives nearby, was arrested and charged with the offences along with possession of cannabis. He admitted cannabis possession in court today.

Holly Holden, prosecuting, said Edwards admitted his actions fully but said he was protesting against halal slaughter.

The rules for halal, which means "permissable" in Arabic, are based on Islamic law.

Animals must be alive when they are slaughtered with a single cut to the neck.

Animal rights campaigners have claimed the practice, along with kosher slaughter, is cruel - especially in some slaughterhouses which do not stun animals first.

Ms Holden told Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court: “The point about animal slaughter can be expressed in a different way without suggesting halal and terrorism is linked.”

But Mike Cahill, defending, said Edwards was protesting against halal slaughter and the reference to terrorism in the stickers referred neither to race nor religion.

District Judge James Hatton bailed Edwards on condition he does not go near the Sainsbury’s where the incident happened.

His trial at the magistrates’ court will begin on July 23.