Racist hatemailer sentenced

A BNP supporter who sent hate mail to a Labour councillor has escaped a prison sentence.

 Kevin David, 38, of Fairlop Road, Leytonstone, told police that he was "on drugs" when he wrote a malicious letter to his ward councillor Marie Pye.

 The letter, which the defendant signed from far-right British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin also attacked the Labour government for its immigration policies and David later disclosed that he held "similar views" to the BNP.

 At Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court this morning, David, who has a previous conviction for Actual Bodily Harm, was given an 18-month supervision order, with a requirement to attend a six-month rehabilitation course. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Cllr Pye and £70 court costs.

 David had been told by a magistrate at an earlier hearing that he could face jail because the maximum sentence for the charge of malicious communication is six months.

 Sentencing, magistrate Brian Hilton told him: "It is not right that you sent a public councillor an offensive letter of that sort and she deserves some compensation. We regard this offence as very serious one but have been persuaded by psychiatric reports that you need assistance rather than punishment."

 Detective Sergeant Del Watson said afterwards: "Councillor Pye and her family were clearly traumatised by the letter. Every person, irrespective of their standing within the community has the right to live peacefully in their homes and should not be subjected to hate crime. If a person believes that they or another have been a victim of hate crime, the Metropolitan Police Service would encourage them to report the matter."

 David was arrested after police found traces of his DNA on the letter, which had been delivered to Cllr Pye’s home in January.

 At an earlier hearing, Rosalind Fox, prosecuting, read the letter out in court. David wrote: "There are five million scumbags wanting to live here and open shops here. Leytonstone has become a cesspit and a ghetto for these scum. I see you walking around with your walking stick. Why don't you f**k **f you f** c**? Now there are 50 million scumbags in the UK. BNP for ever. Don't look for the real cockneys because they have already left. Asians out. Africans out. Europeans out."

Waltham Forest Guardian

Racist hatemailer sentencing delayed

The sentencing of a racist BNP supporter who sent a councillor hate mail has been delayed again.

Kevin David was due to hear what his punishment would be on Tuesday, but bench chairman Haydon Gott ordered a psychiatric report.

David admitted sending a letter which included a bigoted rant against immigrants' and abused Cllr Marie Pye directly, Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court heard when he pleaded guilty last month. The 38-year-old, who lives close to Cllr Pye in Fairlop Road, Leytonstone, signed the malicious mail Nick Griffin' - the leader of the far-right BNP.

David was caught when police found traces of DNA on the letter which had been hand-delivered to Cllr Pye by a friend of David's in January.

Joanne Nicol, prosecuting, said: "On Wednesday, January 16, Cllr Pye heard a letter fall through her letter box and her partner went to get it. After reading it Cllr Pye became very distressed because it made several racial remarks and contained comments about her weight and disability."

Emma Judt, mitigating, said: "David is currently seeing a doctor at Thorpe Coombe Hospital to resolve his mental health issues."

Mr Gott said David had two previous convictions, one for an assault in 2002 for which he received a community punishment order and the other for an offence he committed 14 years ago. He will now be sentenced on Thursday, July 22.

Leytonstone Guardian

Racist hate mailer sentencing delayed

The sentencing of a racist BNP supporter who sent a councillor hate mail has been delayed.

Kevin David was due to hear his punishment today Tuesday but, due to an administrative error, he will now be sentenced on June 24. David admitted sending a letter which included a bigoted rant against 'immigrants' and abused Cllr Marie Pye directly, Waltham Forest magistrates heard last week.

The 38-year-old, who lives close to Cllr Pye in Fairlop Road, Leytonstone, signed the malicious mail 'Nick Griffin' - the leader of the far-right BNP. David was snared when police found traces of his DNA on the letter, which had been delivered to Cllr Pye by a friend of David's, in January.

Rosalind Fox, prosecuting, read the letter out in court.

David wrote: "I see you talk a lot about the regeneration of Leytonstone and how there are going to be new shops and businesses. But the whole world can see how these scumbags are pushing the British people out. There are five million of these scumbags wanting to live here and open shops here.

"Leytonstone has become a cesspit and ghetto for these scum. I see you walking around with a walking stick. Why don't you f**k **f you f** c**? Now there are 50 million scumbags in the UK. BNP for ever. Don't look for the real cockneys because they have already left. Asians out. Africans out. Europeans out."

Elys Christie, mitigating, claimed David was on drugs when he wrote the letter and did not know what he was writing.

Chairman of the bench Ian Brown said: "This is such a serious case we are considering a custodial sentence."

The maximum punishment for the offence is six months in jail.

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Pye said: "I was shocked when I read it. It was given to me at 1am and I couldn't sleep that night. I thought at the time that whoever wrote it knows who I am and can see me but I didn't know them or could see them. I was glad that I took it seriously and didn't chuck it in the bin and reported it to the police who also took it seriously. They were absolutely fantastic."

She added that she had received three other malicious letters but she had not feel she had sufficient evidence to go to the police.

Leytonstone Guardian