Man jailed for TikTok threat to burn down mosques

A man has been jailed for making threats to burn down mosques in a TikTok video posted in the wake of rioting over the summer.

James Aspin, of Blyth, in Northumberland, shared the video on 8 August during unrest in the country after three young girls were stabbed to death in Southport on 29 July.

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the 34-year-old admitted stirring up religious hatred.

Jailing Aspin for 20 months, Her Honour Judge Scott said the words he had used in the video were "hugely offensive and dangerous" and described asylum seekers in a "despicable way".

The court heard Aspin, of Briardale Road, had 931 followers on the social media platform and his video, which was just under four minutes long, was shared five times.

In it he said he was going to "burn down every mosque in Newcastle".

After he was arrested, Aspin told police he was drunk and that the video was "just a rant".

The court also heard psychological reports had described Aspin as "easily led" and "educationally limited".

Judge Scott said an aggravating factor in his crime was the timing, when there was widespread violence in the country and a "particularly sensitive social climate".

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