Nick Griffin's tweets about gay couple in B&B case investigated

Comments on BNP leader Nick Griffin's Twitter account about a gay couple at the centre of a landmark legal case are being examined by police.

The Brampton address of Michael Black and John Morgan, who won a ruling that they had been discriminated against by a B&B owner, was seemingly published.

The tweets on the MEP's account also appeared to call for a demonstration outside.

Cambridgeshire Police is looking into complaints about the tweets.

Mr Black and Mr Morgan went to court after they were refused a double room at Swiss Bed and Breakfast, in Berkshire, by its owner.

Among the tweets on the @nickgriffinmep account were two which read: "So Messrs Black & Morgan, at [their address]. A British Justice team will come up to Huntington & give you a...

"...bit of drama by way of reminding you that an English couple's home is their castle. Say No to heterophobia!"

An earlier tweet on the North West region MEP's account had asked for the couple's address and then said: "We'll hold demo... for rights of all home owners, gays included, to rent or not rent rooms to whomsoever they wish."

Twitter users trying to access the account on the micro-blogging site were subsequently told it had been suspended. It is not clear who made that request.

On Friday morning, the account was active again but the tweet containing the couple's address and the reference to a 'British Justice Team' appeared to be missing.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokeswoman said: "We have received a number of calls in relation to the tweets and are looking into the complaints we have received.

"Officers will also visit the men mentioned in the tweets as part of our inquiries."

One of the tweets had included a home address, she added.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said police should take action against Mr Griffin.

On Thursday Mr Black, 64, and Mr Morgan, 59, were awarded £1,800 each at Reading County Court for "injury to feelings" after they had booked a double room at Swiss B&B via email.

When they arrived in March 2010, owner Susanne Wilkinson, who is a Christian, would not let them stay in a room with a double bed.

Recorder Claire Moulder said that by refusing the couple access to a double room, Mrs Wilkinson had "treated them less favourably than she would treat unmarried heterosexual couples in the same circumstances".

However, the recorder accepted that Mrs Wilkinson was genuine about her Christian beliefs and had also stopped unmarried heterosexual couples from sharing a double bed.

The Christian Institute has backed Mrs Wilkinson's case.

Mrs Wilkinson was granted permission to appeal against the ruling and said she would give it "serious consideration".

James Welch, from civil rights group Liberty which took up the men's case, said: "It is simply unacceptable for people running a business to refuse to provide a service because of someone's sexual orientation."

It comes as a similar case in Cornwall awaits a Supreme Court hearing.

Peter and Hazelmary Bull, the Christian owners of a guesthouse in Marazion, who also turned away a gay couple, have won permission to appeal against their ruling.