Prestwich: Man who wore antisemitic t-shirt in Jewish area jailed
- Published
The Crown Prosecution Service said several witnesses contacted the police to report the incident
A man who wore a t-shirt with offensive wording relating to the conflict in the Middle East while visiting a Jewish area has been jailed.
Robert Hughes was seen by members of the Jewish community walking along Kings Road in Prestwich on the morning of 9 October.
The 69-year-old from Whitefield, Bury, admitted antisemitic hate crime charges.
He was jailed for 12 weeks by magistrates in Bolton.
The Crown Prosecution Service said several witnesses had contacted the police to report the incident.
Two officers approached Hughes in the street and persuaded him to cover the t-shirt with a coat.
In a police interview he later admitted he had deliberately worn the t-shirt to provoke a reaction but denied any intention to cause distress and claimed his actions were an expression of his freedom of speech.
Senior crown prosecutor Matthew Siddall said: "Robert Hughes targeted an area in north Manchester, where he does not live, which is a predominantly Jewish area in order to provoke a reaction with the t-shirt he was wearing.
"He caused upset and distress to all those he came across that day with the offensive words he displayed on his clothing.
"While individuals have a right to freedom of expression, we won't hesitate to prosecute those who deliberately undermine public order by demonstrating hostility to anyone's race or religion."
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