A CHRISTIAN couple were celebrating last night after a judge dismissed claims they abused a Muslim guest at their hotel.

Benjamin Vogelenzang wiped away tears as a district judge threw out the case at Liverpool Magistrates Court yesterday.

Deafening applause greeted the decision from the court’s packed and jubilant public gallery.

Many of the couple’s supporters had already waved "Free Speech" banners and sung outside court in protest at the couple’s prosecution.

The born-again Christian hoteliers spent two days on trial accused of branding their guest Ericka Tazi a "terrorist" and "murderer".

Afterwards, a relieved Mrs Vogelenzang, 54, said: "We are delighted we have been found innocent of any crime.

"It has been a very difficult nine months and we are looking forward to rebuilding our business and getting on with our lives."

The couple thanked everyone who had supported them and said they wished everybody "peace and goodwill" with Christmas approaching.Prosecutors had claimed the couple, who have five adopted children, flipped when Mrs Tazi wore a Muslim headcover to breakfast on the final day of her stay at the Bounty House Hotel in Church Avenue, Aintree, in March this year.

The 60-year-old, who suffers from chronic pain condition fibromyalgia, spent a month there while attending a pain management course at the nearby Walton Centre.

The mother-of-two, from Warrington, told police Mr Vogelenzang, 53, began jumping up and down and calling her "Hitler" and a "Nazi" after seeing her for the first time in her hijab.

She claimed the couple called it "bondage" for her to wear the scarf and said the attack left her "traumatised" and reduced to tears.

But district Judge Richard Clancy gave two main reasons for dismissing the case. The first reason included behaviour by Mrs Tazi which did not fit with the image of a devout Muslim, which she sought to portray.