Newcastle man avoids jail after spreading racist messages online
A 25 year old who spread racial hatred online has been handed a suspended jail sentence
A socially isolated Newcastle man who spread racist messages online will avoid jail - after being given a suspended prison sentence
Nathan Thompson, who's 25 and from Whickham View, in Newcastle, had admitted nine counts of inciting racial hatred and 2 malicious communications offences between April and July last year.
Using two accounts on Twitter, now known as X, he shared or reposted offensive, extreme right-wing messages about black and brown people, Jews, Muslims, refugees, immigrants and members of the LGBT community, the court heard.
Sentencing, Judge Clemitson told Thompson his posts celebrated Hitler and his actions, fascists and those who had committed terror attacks around the world.
The messages dehumanised refugees and people from non-white ethnic groups, the judge said.
They also depicted deliberately offensive images such as the Koran being burned, she added.
Judge Clemitson said Thompson's online behaviour will have caused the groups he targeted to live in fear and embolden those who shared his views.
She said: "Each homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, antisemitic, racist or fascist tweet fans the flames of division and hatred."
But she did not impose an immediate custodial sentence, saying Thompson had "borderline" learning difficulties and was isolated, spending a great deal of time in his bedroom on his computer.
He admitted his offending at the first opportunity, had no previous convictions and his offensive posts were made last year and not at a time of heightened community tension such as the country has just experienced, the judge said.
She handed him a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with a series of requirements including that his use of the internet should be closely monitored by police or probation officers.
Outside court, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "The Counter Terrorism Policing network works around the clock to identify harmful content online and bring to justice anyone promoting such material on social media.
"If you've seen material expressing extreme views or hatred, trust your instincts and report any posts or activity of concern to police so we can act on it.
"You can report in confidence at gov.uk/ACT."
At a previous hearing, Gregg Stephens, defending, said: "He is a young lad who is quite isolated and socially vulnerable.
"He has mental health issues, doesn't mix with people and spends a lot of time on his computer.
"He has got himself connected to this right-wing stuff which you can find online."
Mr Stephens said what was posted went well beyond expressing free speech and Thompson now realised it was "wholly inappropriate".
Mr Stephens added: "He doesn't necessarily believe in the things he has been putting online, he has been misguided, rather than someone who is a genuine danger."