A United Kingdom councillor has been convicted and sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work after publishing a social media post suggesting that Nigerians living in Sunderland should be used to fill potholes.
Glenn Gibbins, 66, was found guilty of sending a grossly offensive communication following a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
According to British newspaper Chronicle Live, the suspended Reform UK councillor received a 12-month community order on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Councillor faces trial over Facebook comment
The case centred on a Facebook post Gibbins published in March 2024, before his election to Sunderland City Council.
The post complained about the number of Nigerians in Sunderland and suggested that they should be melted down to fill potholes.
The comment attracted criticism after anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate uncovered it while examining his social media activity.
Gibbins was subsequently suspended by Reform UK after the post became public.
The controversy also prompted complaints from members of the Nigerian community in Sunderland.
Councillor claims post was a joke
During the trial, Gibbins admitted that his comment was offensive but argued that it was not intended to be taken literally.
He described it as a joke and maintained that he had not intended to encourage violence against Nigerians.
The councillor told the court that he had previously interacted with Nigerians at his business premises and had not intended the post as a genuine threat.
However, prosecutors argued that the language was dehumanising and targeted a specific community.
The prosecution maintained that such statements could cause distress and undermine the dignity of people belonging to the affected group.
Nigerian community expresses concern
Nigerian community leader Godwin Ejeh told the court that the post had caused concern among Nigerians residing in Sunderland.
Ejeh disclosed that he had participated in a protest outside the city’s council building after the comments emerged.
He explained that the issue went beyond political disagreement and concerned the treatment of people based on their nationality.
Court rejects defence
District Judge Zoe Passfield ruled that the post crossed the legal threshold for grossly offensive communication.
The court sentenced Gibbins to a 12-month community order requiring him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
The sentence does not involve immediate imprisonment.
Following the verdict, Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service warned that offensive social media content targeting communities could amount to criminal conduct.
Gibbins’ legal representatives indicated that he intended to challenge the conviction at the Crown Court.
The case has renewed discussions about racism, freedom of expression and the legal responsibilities of public officials in the United Kingdom.
