48-year-old sentenced for racist messages on social media

48-year-old Lee Cole from Gateshead was sentenced to 12 months’ in prison yesterday (10th March 2025), suspended for two years, having posted a series of racist messages on social media.

Cole pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court in January to six offences of inciting racial hatred through recklessness, contrary to Section 19 and Section 21 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Cole was arrested in July 2024 after Counter Terrorism Policing internet specialists discovered he had shared racist, homophobic, transphobic and antisemitic messages on several social media sites. He had also shared a video by the extreme right wing terrorist group National Action

In addition to a suspended prison sentence, Cole was also ordered to comply with: 50 days’ Rehabilitation Activity Order and 90 days’ Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Order. Additionally, the electronic devices used in the offences were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.