A 22-year old self-confessed Nazi has been jailed for three years after calling for the genocide of Jews.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty at Preston Crown Court in January of two counts of stirring up racial hatred.
He had given speeches at far right rallies in 2015 and 2016. The court heard how at one he described Jewish people as “parasites” and called for them to be “eradicated.” The court also heard how the Lancashire man told a crowd at another event that “you can call me a Nazi, you can call me a fascist, that's what I am,” and that “we need to start focusing on the real enemy, the real enemy is the Jew.”
Judge Robert Altham described the motives of the man, a member of the now-proscribed far right National Action group, as “very clear.
“He seeks to raise street armies, perpetrate violence against Jewish people and ultimately bring about genocide.
“These are not idle comments said in the heat of the moment but intended to mobilise others.”
The judge also described an apology submitted in mitigation as at best “meaningless”, at worst “dishonest.” He sentenced the guilty party to 18 months in prison for each offence, to be served consecutively.
Sue Hemming from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "This man intended to stir up hatred and wanted others to hate Jewish people like he does…[his comments went] beyond protected free speech and crossed the line into vilifying a group using threatening and abusive language at public meetings".
In a statement, CST said it wished to "thank the Police who worked to prepare evidence for the case, and thanks the CPS for dealing with this individual.
"The prosecution of this neo-Nazi serves as a warning to others who believe they are protected by freedom of speech, that antisemitic hatred and incitement to hatred and violence should not be tolerated in the United Kingdom."