Christopher Phillips has today been sentenced to 12 months in prison and imposed with an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) for distributing videos of himself at an extremist right-wing event on a social media site.
Mr Phillips pleaded guilty to one count of stirring up racial hatred contrary to section 21 of the Public Order Act 1986 at a hearing on 31 October 2013 at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Specialist lawyer Bethan David from the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division said:
“The three videos of Mr Phillips posted on Facebook showed him dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit hanging a life size ‘golliwog’ doll. This was an act with very clear racist connotations, and Mr Phillips’ dissemination of the videos on open social media channels showed a clear intent to stir up racial hatred.
“Though freedom of speech is the right of any individual in our democracy, so too does everyone have the right to be protected by the law and that is why we regard racist crimes, along with all hate crimes, as particularly serious; because they undermine people's right to feel safe.
"While people are entitled to hold extreme opinions which others may find unpleasant and obnoxious, they are not entitled to distribute those opinions in a threatening manner intending to stir up hatred. Behaviour that incites bigotry and hatred undermines the freedom of law-abiding individuals and it will not be tolerated in our society.”
