A man has been cleared of breaking into a mosque in Medway and causing damage just hours after the horrific killing of a British Army soldier in south east London.

Andrew Grindlay denied being responsible for the outrage at the Jamia Mosque in Gillingham where the door was urinated on, the frame was damaged and a glass cabinet was smashed.

A jury acquitted the 46-year-old, of Kingswood Road, Gillingham, of burglary and religiously aggravated damage to property after deliberating for just 42 minutes.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said police were providing reassurance to worshippers at the Canterbury Street mosque after the knife attack on Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich on May 22.

A patrol car was stationed outside, but within one minute of the officers leaving to carry out a “roaming patrol”, and just half an hour after evening prayers had finished, the mosque was targeted.

Mr Grindlay was arrested within feet of the mosque.

He was later identified by a witness who made the 999 call as the same man seen inside the mosque door.

Miss Todd said the break-in happened on the “absolutely unforgettable day” Drummer Rigby was killed.

Mr Grindlay’s phone contained text messages, she said, of a “shocking and abusive” nature that had been sent and received in the aftermath of killing.

One referred to it as a liberty, while another made a racist and highly offensive remark about those responsible.

Mr Grindlay said in evidence: “I wasn’t involved. I wasn’t banging on the window. I never touched the mosque. I did not go into it, didn’t kick it, didn’t touch it.

“I don’t know what happened in there. I’m not going to make assumptions on what happened inside.

Andrew Grindlay claimed in evidence he was walking past the mosque when he saw two men messing around. He said he asked what they were up to but did not get involved.

Two Asian men spotted him, he said, and thought he was involved. He told them he was not.

Mr Grindlay said of text messages on his phone that he did not lock it or have a PIN, but had no recollection of anybody else using it.

His mate Craig sent a text saying he was about to arrive in Canterbury Street, but Mr Grindlay said it was not a reference to going to the mosque.

He said he was going to see what the score was with his girlfriend as they had been having some disagreements.

Mr Grindlay said he was “fairly upset” when he heard the news about Drummer Rigby.

“I wasn’t involved. I wasn’t banging on the window. I never touched the mosque" - Andrew Grindlay

Everyone was taken back by the events on that day,” he said. “I was never angry about Woolwich. I was upset.”

He said he was walking to see his friend to give him £10 he owed him. He then walked back down Canterbury Street.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, from Romford in Essex, and Michael Adebowale, 22, from Greenwich, are due to stand trial on November 18 accused of the murder of Drummer Rigby.

The 25-year-old from Middleton, Greater Manchester, was returning to the Royal Artillery Barracks when he was attacked. He died from multiple cuts and stab wounds.

Prime Minister David Cameron was among thousands of mourners who attended his funeral in July.