Warning: Some readers may find language in this story offensive
A suspended Reform UK councillor has been convicted of a malicious communication over a Facebook post about Nigerian people.
Sunderland city councillor Glenn Gibbins has been sentenced to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work for the “grossly offensive” post made in March 2024.
It came to light after he was elected to represent the Hylton Castle ward in May 2026.
Convicting him after a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, 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.”
His legal team said Gibbins intended to appeal at the crown court later.
Gibbins’ post said: “Carnt believe the amount of nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!! [sic]”
Police were informed about the post after Gibbins was successfully voted in during local elections.
Prosecutor Emma Dowling said the comment about melting Nigerians down implied they were “somewhat less than human, stripping people in that group of humanity”.
Godwin Ejeh, a community leader in Sunderland’s Nigerian community, gave evidence to say he led a protest outside the City Hall building when Gibbins should have been sworn in, hoping the councillor would apologise.
However, Gibbins had already been suspended by Reform after the post came to light and he did not attend the ceremony.
Ejeh, who stood as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the May elections, denied trying to make political capital from the situation.
He told the court: “We are talking about humanity here, it’s way beyond politics.”