UK Councillor Convicted Over Dehumanising Remarks About Nigerians

A 66-year-old former Reform UK councillor in the United Kingdom, Glenn Gibbins, has been convicted over a grossly offensive social media post targeting Nigerians living in Sunderland.

Gibbins was found guilty of malicious communication following a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors argued that his remarks were dehumanising and intended to offend members of the Nigerian community.

District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced him to a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work. His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.

The case arose from a Facebook post published in March 2024, in which Gibbins suggested that Nigerians in Sunderland should be melted down and used to fill potholes.

The post attracted attention after the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate reviewed his social media activity when he emerged as a Reform UK candidate for Sunderland City Council ahead of the local elections.

Gibbins, who was elected in May 2026, was subsequently suspended by the party after the comments came to light.

During the trial, he admitted that the post was offensive but disputed that it was grossly offensive, insisting that it was intended as a joke and should not have been interpreted literally.

He told the court that he had interacted with some Nigerians at his business stall in Sunderland and described their exchange as friendly banter. He said he later saw a similar post online, attempted unsuccessfully to share it and eventually typed the message himself after having a few drinks.

However, prosecuting counsel Emma Dowling argued that the statement portrayed Nigerians as less than human and evoked disturbing images of violence against the community.

Nigerian community leader Godwin Ejeh also testified that he organised a protest outside Sunderland City Hall after the post emerged, seeking an apology from Gibbins.

Ejeh, who contested a council seat under the Liberal Democrats, rejected suggestions that the matter was politically motivated, maintaining that it concerned the dignity and humanity of Nigerians living in the city.

In her ruling, Judge Passfield said she had considered Gibbins’ right to freedom of expression but concluded that the post crossed the legal threshold for grossly offensive communication.

The Crown Prosecution Service said racially charged and dehumanising remarks could cross the boundary between free speech and criminal conduct, warning social media users that similar comments could lead to prosecution.