Reform UK councillor in Sunderland handed community order after racist ‘joke’ about Nigerians
Summary
Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins received a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work for a grossly offensive Facebook post about Nigerians. A district judge ruled that the post breached the Malicious Communications Act; Gibbins’s lawyer said he would appeal to the Crown Court.Key Facts
- Gibbins, 66, was elected to Sunderland council in May.
- In March 2024, he posted on Facebook that Nigerians in the city should be melted down and used to fill potholes.
- Gibbins said at trial that the post was meant as a joke and was not intended literally.
- District Judge Zoe Passfield ruled that Gibbins intended to be grossly offensive to Nigerians because he was displeased by their numbers in the city.
- The sentence is a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work.
- Godwin Ejeh, leader of Sunderland’s Nigerian community, testified that the post caused distress and prompted an emergency community meeting.
- Gibbins’s lawyer said the post was not politically motivated and confirmed plans to appeal.
- Gibbins has been suspended by Reform UK, reinstated, and suspended again, according to the article.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
