Sunderland city councillor Glenn Gibbins has been convicted of sending a malicious communication over a Facebook post in which he said Nigerians in the city should be “melted down” to fill in potholes.

The 66-year-old, who represents the Hylton Castle ward, was found guilty on Monday 9 November at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court and sentenced to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £650 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

District Judge Zoe Passfield said the post was “nothing more and nothing less than a grossly offensive comment about members of the Nigerian community in Sunderland and Mr Gibbins’ views as to their status, or otherwise, as human beings”.

What Gibbins posted in March 2024

Gibbins wrote the post in March 2024, more than two years before he was elected to Sunderland City Council in May 2026. It read: “Carnt believe the amount of nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!”

The post came to light before the local elections, when campaigners examined his past social media activity after he was announced as a Reform UK candidate. He told the court the message was a tongue-in-cheek joke and accepted that it was offensive, but not grossly so. The judge found otherwise, ruling that the post was grossly offensive and targeted a specific ethnic minority.

Gibbins, who has no previous convictions, was prosecuted under the Communications Act 2003. His legal team has said he will appeal against the verdict to the Crown Court.

Expelled by Reform UK after the verdict

Reform UK has expelled Gibbins from the party following his conviction, after first suspending him when the post came to light. Labour has called on the 66-year-old to resign his council seat. Sunderland City Council now lists him as an independent member.

The case is a reminder that social media posts made years before taking public office can still lead to prosecution, even when the author insists the words were meant as a joke.