Southport: Man cleared of racial hatred over social media posts

Giving evidence last week, Mr Heath said: “I do have strong opinions and express those opinions but at no point was I trying to stir up racial hatred.

“I am very much right-wing. I do not hate all Muslims, but I do have major issues with radical Islam.”

Another message, posted by Mr Heath on the day of the Southport knife attacks, falsely said Ali Al Shakati was the perpetrator, was 17 years old and had arrived on a dinghy, and wrongly repeated claimed that witnesses saw him shouting “Allahu Akbar”.

Mr Heath said: “Ali Al Shakati is a name that was circulated from a false news channel, which a lot of people got took in by, obviously me included. It was wildfire on X.”

When asked by his barrister if he was intending to stir up racial hatred on that post, he added: “Not at all. I was just commenting on what I had heard.

“Taking our country back means taking the borders back. That’s me having an opinion.

“The people that were rioting, in my opinion, are stupid. I condemn them 100%.”

On hearing the verdict, Mr Heath – who was sitting in a wheelchair in the dock wearing a red T-shirt – punched the air with two fists.

Judge Timothy Spencer KC thanked the jury for its service and discharged the defendant.