I read the link and the punch line is at the end -

“The guest complained to Merseyside Police who called the couple in for an interview. They were questioned twice before being charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence.”

I wonder whether they were collected for questioning by policewomen wearing the Hijab.

Judy, I think I get your points, but there is difference between expressing odious views into the general ether and addressing them towards specific individuals, and between those situations and addressing them towards specific individuals in a threatening way. In this particular instance, I think there is a grey area between Laxton addressing an inanimate object (the television screen) and vaguely but intentionally addressing anyone within earshot.

I don’t buy the excuse that he was only addressing the screen either – he must have known he would be overheard. On the other hand, that is not quite the same as going up to someone and shouting in their face, waving a fist etcetera. That’s why I suggested his behaviour appears to be mainly a matter of breach of the peace rather than actual threatening behaviour towards individuals.

I suspect he knew quite well what he was doing and that he hoped his outburst would vaguely intimidate or upset any Jews or their friends in his proximity, but like most bullies he would have the cowardly option of claiming he hadn’t meant anything personal.

Whatever happens, the damage to his reputation has been done and many will know him for the bigot and creep he is. Hopefully his career is screwed. Even so, that does not mean he deserves to be convicted of the more serious charge. A fine and the attendant disgrace should suffice.

I didn’t know you were in the forces during WWII, L. In which did you Serve? MY dad was RN. About 30 000 Palestinian Jews served in the British forces, I think.

Besides, you’ve got to do something really serious to get into trouble at the FO, like sleeping with someone you shouldn’t.

No, the point you made was:

“How about Justice for the people he hates and makes to feel threatened and unwelcome in the very gym they have as much right to be in as he does? ”

But how can these people have been made to feel “unwelcome” when the management of the gym sided with them, affirmed their right to exercise in peace, expelled the abusive party and banned him from returning?

I agree, but it doesn’t neccessarily follow that doing so should be a criminal offence.

Lovely chap, eh. I think everyone’s efforts should well be spent on defending him, absolutely. Poor guy.

It’s not about whether we happen to approve of him as an individual – I agree he sounds like quite an odious character. It’s the principle of to what extent behaviour which some people find offensive or disturbing should be criminalised which is the issue.

Israelinurse (should I be calling myself AngloSaxonQuitewell?) never misses a chance to denigrate British resistance to Hitler, however tangential – one long since abandoned any hope of a thank you – another reason this man must go. His presence creates opportunities for grudge mongers.
Israelinurse (should I be calling myself AngloSaxonQuitewell?) never misses a chance to denigrate British resistence to Hitler, however tangential – one long since abandoned any hope of a thank you – another reason this man must go. His presence creates opportunities for grudge mongers.

Perhaps you can explain to us how a TV set became, legally, a human being being harrassed. Huh? How did that happen, exactly.

But they presumably would have been quite OK with them going round shouting and plastering the streets with slogans like “The Jews are our misfortune”, “Jews-disgusting race”, ‘the Jews are a plague on our society and our worst enemy” (actually Russia 2004); “The Jews rule the world”; “F*** the Jews” (as also invoked by the martyred Rowan Laxton); “Dirty Jews”; “Jews drink Christian blood” (Russia again)