A 66-year-old former Reform UK councillor in Sunderland, Glenn Gibbins, has been convicted by a United Kingdom court over grossly offensive comments targeting the city’s Nigerian community.
According to report, the councillor was found guilty following a three-hour trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced Gibbins to a 12-month community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work.
During the trial, Gibbins admitted that his remarks were offensive but denied that they were grossly offensive. He reportedly made the comments in a Facebook post in March 2024, suggesting that Nigerians should be melted down and used to fill potholes.
Defending his statement in court, the former councillor described it as “naughty” but insisted that it was not intended to be taken literally.
The controversial post reportedly came to light after anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate reviewed his social media activities following the announcement of his candidacy for Sunderland City Council under the Reform UK party.
However, authorities were alerted to the post after Gibbins was elected in May, according to The Roving Pen News.
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