UK court convicts suspended Reform councillor over post saying Nigerians should be “melted down” to “fill potholes”

Suspended Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins has been convicted and given a community order over a Facebook post saying Nigerians should be “melted down” to fill potholes.

A suspended Reform UK councillor, Glenn Gibbins, has been convicted by a UK magistrates’ court over a demeaning Facebook post suggesting Nigerians should be “melted down” and “used to fill potholes,” Peoples Gazette reports.

Gibbins, who was elected to Sunderland City Council in north-east England in May this year, made the post in March 2024, two years before his election.

“Can’t believe amount of nigerians in town….. should melt them all down and fill in the potholes!!” he wrote in the post.

During his trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, the councillor defended the comments, describing them as a “tongue in cheek” joke.

However, District Judge Zoe Passfield ruled that the social media post was grossly offensive and breached the Malicious Communications Act.

He was convicted following the trial and sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work.

His legal team said Gibbins intended to appeal the verdict at the Crown Court later.