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