Two Men Sentenced in the UK for Inciting Racial Hatred Online
Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of five years in prison for publishing Facebook posts that incited racial hatred and called for violence against a hotel housing asylum seekers in Leeds during recent riots in the UK.
Jordan Parlour, 28, from Leeds, received a 20-month prison sentence for posting material on Facebook that intended to stir racial hatred. His posts targeted the Britannia Hotel in Seacroft, which temporarily houses refugees and asylum seekers. Parlour’s posts, which were widely circulated, called for the destruction of the hotel, expressing anger and frustration over the presence of asylum seekers in the UK.
In a separate case, Tyler Kay, a company director, was sentenced to 38 months at Northampton Crown Court. Kay was convicted of echoing anti-immigrant comments originally posted by the wife of a Tory councillor and boasting online that he would “categorically” not be arrested. His posts also included calls for action against immigration solicitors in Northampton and support for organized protests.
Prosecutor Matthew Donkin detailed the impact of their actions, highlighting that staff at the Britannia Hotel reported incidents of stones being thrown and windows being damaged between August 2 and August 3. The prosecutor also connected these incidents to a broader wave of public disorder that spread across several UK cities, including Southport, Manchester, Hartlepool, Aldershot, and London.
During the trial, it was revealed that Parlour’s posts garnered numerous likes and comments, further fueling the spread of hate and violence. When questioned online about his motives, Parlour stated that he was frustrated by what he perceived as asylum seekers benefiting from taxpayer money that should be used for “hardworking people.” He later admitted to the police that his posts were made out of “anger and frustration.”
The judge, Recorder of Leeds Judge Guy Kearl KC, condemned Parlour’s actions, stating that his intention to incite hatred and violence was “plainly evident.”
These sentences underscore the serious consequences of spreading hate and inciting violence, particularly against vulnerable groups like asylum seekers.