Britain First Leaders Jailed for Anti-Muslims Hate Crime

Local Editor

The leaders of far-right extremist group Britain First were jailed for anti-Muslim hate crimes after targeting people they incorrectly believed were involved in an ongoing rape trial.

Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, both of Beeches Close in Penge, were convicted on several counts of religiously-aggravated harassment following a trial at Folkestone Magistrates' Court, which heard their actions could have caused rapists to walk free.

Fransen was sentenced to 36 weeks imprisonment and Golding for 18 weeks by a judge who said their crimes were "deliberately planned against targeted victims".

Judge Justin Barron said their words and actions "demonstrated hostility" towards Muslims and Islam, adding: "I have no doubt it was their joint intention to use the facts of the case for their own political ends.

"It was a campaign to draw attention to the race, religion and immigrant background of the defendants."

The judge said the court had received a number of emails both in the defendants' support and against them, but the verdict was based" solely on admissible evidence heard in court". 

Golding, 36, was convicted of one count of religiously aggravated harassment and acquitted on two others.

His deputy, 31-year-old Fransen, was found guilty of three counts of the same offence and cleared of one.

They were arrested in May after distributing leaflets and posting of videos during a rape trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team