Man posted ‘abhorrent and vile’ racist abuse on YouTube videos
They were described as ’emotive and full of hate’ and came during a ‘sensitive social climate’ just days after the Southport tragedy
A racist online agitator who posted “abhorrent and vile” abuse against migrants and Muslims – and called for them to be killed as part of a “civil war” – has been jailed for four years.
Angry internet troublemaker Sam Hawkins repeatedly called for mosques to be burned to the ground and he urged people to “get hold of machine guns, flame throwers and hand grenades”.
His nasty and menacing online comments under YouTube videos were “emotive and full of hate” and they came during a “sensitive social climate” just two days after the tragic Southport murders of three young girls.
Police found a “deadly” stash of weapons at his home and he launched a doomed bid to claim asylum in the Netherlands after his toxic campaign to whip up racial hate was discovered, Hull Crown Court heard.
Hawkins, 56, of Wansford Road, Driffield, but recently in custody on remand, admitted displaying and publishing threatening, abusive or insulting written material on YouTube to stir up racial hatred between April 10 and July 31. He also admitted possessing offensive weapons, including a machete, a commando knife and an extendable baton, in a private place on August 27.
Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that, in August, Humberside Police received information from Interpol about racist and violent content on a YouTube channel. Cross-checks were made of email address users and the channel was linked to Hawkins.
He had posted comments in response to a number of videos posted by others on YouTube. They included reposts and excerpts of news programmes and bulletins from GB News, including violence following the “tragic murders” of three girls in Southport.
There was also video coverage of violent disorder in Leeds and violence involving Iranians in London. There was an interview with Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League.
The videos had all been deleted by Google and could no longer be viewed by members of the public. Google provided copies of the comments made by Hawkins.
“These comments were made at a time of increased community tensions,” said Miss Gatland. This was just two days after the violence that followed the Southport murders.
“The comments had thousands of views, sometimes hundreds of thousands of views,” said Miss Gatland. “The comments were taken down by Google.
“It was a particularly sensitive social climate.” The large number of weapons at his home could be “deadly” and they were of “significant concern given the nature of the posts that he made”.
The police made arrangements for Hawkins to go voluntarily to Driffield police station but he failed to attend. Police went to his home and found a large number of weapons, including crossbows, machetes, knives, air weapons and an extendable baton.
He was circulated by police as wanted and it was discovered that he and his parents had boarded a ferry to Amsterdam. Police were told by the Dutch authorities that he was seeking asylum there.
He boarded another ferry and police were told that it was due to arrive at North Shields on September 15. “The defendant and his parents had all been refused entry to the Netherlands,” said Miss Gatland. “All three of them were stopped.” Hawkins made no comment to questions during police interview.
He later said that most of the weapons had been there for years and had never left the house or garden and that he had no intention of causing injury. He was unaware if it was unlawful to possess them in private. He had no previous convictions.
Andrew Petterson, mitigating, said that Hawkins expressed “abhorrent and vile views” in the comments that he posted online. “There were 22 posts over a four-month period,” said Mr Petterson.
“We know that these comments were removed by Google. Some of the videos were viewed multiple times. There is nothing to suggest that the comments made by the defendant were viewed multiple times.
“Just because a video is watched doesn’t necessarily mean that the comments have been read. Since being remanded in custody, he has been subjected to a violent attack by a fellow inmate.
“The defendant has not found the custodial setting and the custodial experience to be an easy one. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“He has expressed remorse and regret for what he had done and acknowledged the error of his ways and expressed a desire to make amends. This offending is abhorrent and merits a custodial term.
“He was not setting out to organise disorder and violence on the streets. His views expressed in those comments are emotive and full of hate but they are not intended to instigate specific incidents of violence and he doesn’t suggest meeting in a particular location.
“At the time, it was a particularly sensitive time, given the tragedy of what happened in Southport.” Mr Petterson said that, during the mitigation for the offences, Hawkins could be seen in a video link from Hull Prison to be “hanging his head in shame and covering his face”.
Judge Tahir Khan KC told Hawkins: “Your intention was to incite serious violence, coming just two days after the Southport attack. The posts were disseminated far and wide. Some of the videos to which posts were made have had thousands of views, some of them hundreds of thousands of views.
“It was a particularly sensitive social climate. There was also a large number of weapons at your home address, which, while they may not have been illegal, could still be deadly and represent a real concern.
“Immediate custody is required to discourage others from behaving in this abhorrent way.”
Far-Right Criminals 