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Suspended Reform councillor found guilty over post
The court found the Facebook post crossed the criminal threshold and ordered 150 hours of unpaid work in a 12-month community order.
- On Monday, Sunderland City Councillor Glenn Gibbins faced trial at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on charges under the Communications Act regarding a Facebook post about Nigerians.
- Reform suspended Gibbins after the group Hope Not Hate uncovered his 2024 posts suggesting Nigerians "should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!" following his election to Hylton Castle Ward in May.
- Prosecutor Emma Dowling argued the post was shared "for no reason whatsoever other than to offend and humiliate" Nigerians, while Gibbins claimed it was "tongue-in-cheek" banter he did not intend literally.
- Judge Passfield sentenced Gibbins to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, ruling the post was a "grossly offensive comment" about Nigerians' humanity, though his legal team plans to appeal.
- Community leader Godwin Ejeh emphasized the case centered on fundamental humanity, noting he had previously led protests at City Hall hoping Gibbins would apologize before the trial.
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Sunderland councillor tells court he did not mean 'naughty' social media post about melting down Nigerians
A suspended Reform UK councillor who posted on social media suggesting that Nigerians be melted down and used to fill potholes told a court it was “naughty”, but he did not mean it literally.
·Sunderland, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Center
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
40% Center
L 30%
C 40%
R 30%
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