‘Right-wing’ former prison guard not guilty of inciting racial hatred at X

A “right-wing” former prison officer has been found not guilty of inciting racial hatred in a series of social media posts before and after the Southport attacks.

Mark Heath denied publishing “threatening, abusive or offensive” posts on X (formerly Twitter) between July 22 and August 6 this year.

He told the court this was his “strong opinion” and “does not encourage violence”.

The jury at Loughborough Crown Court acquitted him after they were shown screenshots of his posts during the week-long trial, including a claim that the Southport attacker, who stabbed three children to death in Merseyside on July 29, was a criminal . an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat.

Jurors were told father-of-one Heath, 45, posted a message on the day of the Southport stabbing, which received 228,000 views, saying: “Now for the truth. The name is Ali Al Shakati, he arrived by boat last year and said he was 17 years old, so his name is not given, and numerous witnesses say he shouted “ALLAHU AKBAR”.

The court was shown another post, made on July 29, which read: “Just think how many ALI AL SHAQATI are arriving and are already here, ready to slaughter our children!!”

Mr Heath, whose profile X had more than 6,000 followers, told the court he was “right-wing” but did not consider himself “far right”.

Images attached to one of the tweets included the slogans “it’s time for us the people to take back our country” and “I will not submit to Islam in my country.”

Another post was titled “IT IS COMING” with the hashtag “civil war.”

The court heard Mr Heath, who worked at HMP Peterborough for five years, re-posted rally dates originally posted by political activist Tommy Robinson.

Mr Heath, of Kestrel Road, Oakham, Rutland, previously told the jury he thought people rioting after the Southport attacks were “stupid” and he “condemns them 100%”.

He added: “In none of my posts that have anything to do with the riots do I encourage or condone a call to arms. I’m not like that.

“I do have strong opinions and I express those opinions, but in no way was I trying to incite racial hatred or think that this would incite anything.”

Prosecution lawyer Lyndon Harris summed up the Crown’s case on Thursday, telling jurors: “(Mr Heath) wanted others to share his views – to share the hatred he described for Muslims, immigrants and non-British people.

“We say the intention was very clear – to incite racial hatred in the context of the riots and riots this summer.”

Mr Heath’s lawyer Christopher Surtees-Jones told the jury that “the views expressed by Mr Heath are also regularly expressed in the public domain by politicians and others.”

He said the defendant “firmly believed” that X was a “safe place for free speech” and made it clear that his posts were his opinions.

Mr Surtees-Jones added: “Serious views are views that are legitimate whether you agree with them or not.”

Hearing the verdict, Mr Heath, who sat in a wheelchair in the dock wearing a red T-shirt, punched the air with both fists.

Judge Timothy Spencer K.S. thanked the jury for their service and released the defendant.