Ex-councillor admits racism at pro-Palestine demo

The demonstration was held in London on 14 October

A retired teacher and former town councillor has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment at a pro-Palestine protest.

Robert Mackenzie, 68, from Long Stratton, Norfolk, last month described demonstrators gathered in Whitehall in central London as "animals" and told them to go back to their own country, a court heard.

When a police officer intervened to protect him from the "angry crowd", he said, "why are you even here in this country?" and was then arrested.

Mackenzie, who appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, was released on bail until 30 November.

Mackenzie was a Long Stratton town councillor, but the court was told he retired after being charged.

Mackenzie pleaded guilty to one count of causing racially aggravated harassment towards PC Aslam and a member of the public.

The Metropolitan Police said he was among three men charged with a criminal offence at the same protest on 14 October.

Ines Diab, defending, described Mackenzie as a "family man" with children and a grandchild who had been married for 40 years.

She said: "He has been a teacher teaching mostly Asian girls and he has never had a problem.

"He tells me he plays an active part in the local community and was a councillor until he was charged with this offence and had to retire."

'Unacceptable comments'

The court heard Mackenzie wrote a letter to PC Aslam in which he said he was sorry for the "unacceptable comments".

The letter added: "It is unacceptable that a police officer has to put up with this sort of abuse whilst doing his job - especially when you were trying to protect me from an angry crowd."

Mackenzie's three previous offences related to other protests, the court heard.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring described him as "not of good character" and said he could not rule out a prison sentence.