Two accused admit criminal offence over racially abusive Snapchat video targeting Patel

TWO men, who had racially abused UK home secretary Priti Patel in a racist Snapchat video,  have admitted their criminal offences.

Jake Henderson, a former football manager, and Robert Cumming have admitted criminal offence over the racially abusive video, posted following a government coronavirus briefing in January.

In the 50-second footage that was played at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (29), Henderson was heard saying: “As a white man, I won't be listening to people of colour because they’re no good in positions of power.”

Henderson said to have used the racial slur “P***” several times in the video.

Cumming admitted sharing the video on his own Snapchat group along with the caption “haters gonna be hating”, followed by four laughing emojis.

Both Henderson and Cumming have pleaded guilty to a single charge of sending a grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message or matter via a public communication network. The duo remains on bail until the sentence hearing scheduled next month

After hearing how members of the public were distressed by the comments linked with the video and feared its contents might incite racial hatred, prosecutor Daniel Church told the court the video was “motivated by hostility towards members of racial groups”.

The video came soon after Patel’s Covid-19 briefing on Jan 21 when she announced  £800 fines for people attending house parties. The duo was summoned to court on May 29 and charged with sending a grossly offensive message by a public communication network, which comes with a custodial sentence or fine or both.