Police lie in wait for blogger accused of stiring up racial hatred online

Police are threatening to arrest an internet 'web logger' for incitement to racial hatred the minute he returns to Britain.

Paul Ray, who 'blogs' as 'Lionheart', left Britain for an undisclosed location in the Middle East two years ago.

He claims he was receiving death threats which made it impossible to stay in his home town of Luton.

Since leaving Britain, he has regularly updated his blog with news and opinions on subjects such as the heroin trade, Islamic fundamentalism and police corruption.

Bedfordshire on Sunday understands that Mr Ray has been intending to return to Britain for over a year, in order to make preparations to emigrate officially and permanently.

Mr Ray is a self-confessed former drug dealer and now a born-again Christian.

On January 3, Mr Ray received an email from Bedfordshire police which he has since posted on his website.

From Hate Crime office Ian Holden, it read: 'The offence that I need to arrest you for is "Stir up Racial Hatred by displaying written material" contrary to sections 18(1) and 27(3) of the Public Order Act 1986.

'You will be arrested on SUSPICION of the offence.

You would only be charged following a full investigation based on all the relevant facts and CPS consent.

'Paul, I will see you on the 19/02/08 when I will tell you everything that you need to know.

'Due to being out of the office for six weeks I will not have access to my email as of tomorrow 04/01/08. Ian.'

Mr Ray did not respond to BoS's emails but in an internet post he wrote: 'This charge if found guilty carries a lengthy prison sentence, more than what most paedophiles and rapists receive, and all for writing words of truth about the barbarity that is living in the midst of our children, which threatens the very future of our country.'

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "We are aware of this particular internet site and we are taking action."