Veil row woman returns to court

[Uthman]

Zoobia Hussain denies criminal damage (Pic: MEN)

A woman wearing a full Muslim veil has appeared in court, three weeks after a magistrate walked out of her previous hearing because her face was covered.

Zoobia Hussain, 32, first appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court last month charged with criminal damage.

She said she was "intimidated and deeply embarrassed" after magistrate Ian Murray refused to deal with her case because of identification issues.

Ms Hussain denies the charge and her case was adjourned until 24 July.

She is accused of causing damage to a council house in Longsight after her family was thrown out for rent arrears in January this year.

Mr Murray is being investigated by the Manchester Magistrates' Advisory Committee after Ms Hussain's lawyer complained about him leaving the court.

He has until Thursday to respond officially to the complaint, but has already volunteered not to sit as a magistrate while the inquiry takes place.

[Uthman]