The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, consistently provoked the female member of staff over her beliefs in what is understood to be the first case of its kind.
A court heard how the defendant discovered through friends that his victim was a Pagan - a legally recognised religion - and then “jumped on the bandwagon”.
Paganism encompasses a wide variety of religious groups, including druids and shamans who worship different deities, and is recognised in law. Some concentrate on witchcraft or ecology.
The Pagan Federation of Great Britain says that those who practice the belief are free to “pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience”. It defines Paganiosm as a “nature-worshiping religion” which incorporates a “rich diversity of traditions”....