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Ex-soldier admits stirring racial hatred online

BBC Cardiff Magistrates' Court, with glass doors leading into the building, and a sign reading Cardiff Magistrates' Courthouse in both Welsh and English above the doors BBC
The men appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court after investigations into disorder following the deaths of three girls in Southport

A former soldier has pleaded guilty to stirring up racial hatred after posting a series of anti-Islamic messages on social media.

Daffron Williams, 41, from Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, acknowledged in one tirade he was racist, and said “they want us to become Islamic”.

Two other men from the area also appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on similar charges.

Geraint David Boyce, 43, of Tonyrefail, also admitted publishing threatening images on Facebook, including one post urging people to burn down mosques, and Jamie Michael, 45, of Penygraig, is charged with distributing audio or video material to stir up racial hatred.

The men were charged as part of investigations into recent widespread violent disorder that followed the deaths of three children in Southport last month.

The court heard that Williams had posted several threatening, abusive or insulting messages on a Facebook account between 19 July and 11 August, intended to stir up racial hatred.

One image showed men in Islamic clothing holding swords, chasing a young boy in a union jack t-shirt.

Another image carried the caption "time to wake the lion to save our children’s future".

Ryan Colamazza, prosecuting, said: "These are the kinds of comments which inspire and promote the actions we’ve seen."

'Absolutely horrendous'

Williams served with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, the court was told.

Sophie Jones, defending, said "recent events had triggered his PTSD", but he was "deeply ashamed" of his actions.

Ms Jones added that Williams’s behaviour was an outburst due to the recent political climate.

District judge Stephen Harmes dismissed an application for bail, describing one of Williams’s online tirades as "absolutely horrendous".

He added: "What you say about people in this country and civil war is appalling."

Boyce also pleaded guilty to publishing threatening images on social media, including an image with the caption “no more mosques”.

Both men were remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Michael has also been remanded in custody until he appears at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on 23 August.

More than 700 people have been arrested so far in connection with unrest in parts of the UK over the past two weeks.