UK Councillor Convicted Over Facebook Post Calling for Nigerians to Be Melted Down

A suspended Reform UK councillor, Glenn Gibbins, has been convicted of sending a malicious communication after publishing a Facebook post calling for Nigerians to be melted down and used to fill potholes.

Gibbins, 66, was found guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court over the social media publication, which attracted condemnation for its violent and derogatory reference to Nigerians.

During court proceedings on Monday, Gibbins described the comment as “naughty” but maintained that he had not intended it to be taken literally.

The conviction followed the publication of the Facebook post, which the court found amounted to malicious communication.

The case has drawn attention to the legal consequences of abusive and threatening language shared on social media, particularly when directed at people based on their nationality.