Former boxer admits racially aggravated posts

Derek Heggie made "grossly offensive comments" in two YouTube videos, a court heard

A former boxer has admitted posting racially aggravated comments online during unrest and rioting in the summer.

Derek Heggie made "grossly offensive comments" in two YouTube videos between 2 and 8 August, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

He had been due to stand trial on a charge under the Malicious Communications Act but instead pleaded guilty to sending communication of an offensive nature.

The 41-year-old, of Welsh Road in Harraby, Carlisle, was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 13 December.

The killings of three children on 29 July in Southport triggered waves of unrest across the country.

During a previous court hearing, prosecutor George Shelley said the comments posted by Heggie were "particularly inflammatory" in the context of those disturbances.

'Man of some note'

Heggie, who describes himself as an actor and podcast host, was one of several people in north and west Cumbria to be prosecuted for the use of inflammatory online content.

The court heard that, in videos referring to Muslims, Heggie made comments including "young white girls are being raped by these grooming gangs".

This was done for the "purpose of causing distress or anxiety", the court heard.

When he was interviewed, the defendant had sought to portray himself as a journalist and maintained that the online posts were justified.

Chris Toms, defending, said: "As far as Mr Heggie is personally concerned, you may or not be aware that he is a man of some note in social media and formerly in the professional fighting world.

"He was at one time a professional bare-knuckle boxer who held titles and had televised bouts in that sport."

Judge Nicholas Barker requested background information from the Probation Service ahead of the sentencing.