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A UK politician, Glenn Gibbins, has been handed a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work after being found guilty of posting offensive comments about Nigerians on Facebook.
Gibbins, a 66-year-old Sunderland City councillor, was convicted of malicious communication at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday following a trial.
During the proceedings, he maintained that the remarks were meant as a tongue-in-cheek joke. The Facebook posts were reportedly made about two years before he was elected to the council.
The case also led to disciplinary action within his political party, Reform UK. Gibbins was first suspended when the comments became public but was subsequently reinstated.
His membership was suspended again after he was charged with the offence.
Following the court’s decision, Reform UK confirmed that it had expelled him from the party.
Under the sentence, Gibbins is required to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service within the 12-month period.
