Leeds far-right activist not being punished for views, court told

Sam Melia is on trial at Leeds Crown Court

A far-right activist accused of creating an online library of anti-immigration stickers is not being punished for his political views, a court heard.

Samuel Melia, 34, is on trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with distributing stickers "intended to stir up racial hatred".

He is also accused of encouraging racially aggravated criminal damage.

Mr Melia, of Pudsey, denies both charges against him.

Leeds Crown Court heard he was the head of the Hundred Handers anonymous activist group, who were responsible for a spate of anti-immigration "stickering" incidents between 2019 and 2021.

Members of the group, known as hands, had access to a library of stickers they could download, print out and stick up around the UK and abroad.

'Stoking division'

Prosecutor Tom Storey told jurors in his closing remarks the case was not "seeking to stifle free speech".

"Nor is this a case where the prosecution are seeking to punish someone for their political views," he added.

Mr Storey said it was up to the jury to decide whether Mr Melia, who is also the Yorkshire organiser for far-right group Patriotic Alternative, "was involved in stirring up racial hatred" by distributing the stickers.

"Are these slogans about expressing concern about a complex issue, as Mr Melia said in his evidence, or are they about stoking fear, stoking division, driving hatred of others based on their race, their non-whiteness," he said.

Richard Canning, defending, said there was not "a shred of evidence that the Hundred Handers or Patriotic Alternative encourage lawbreaking".

"A person's right to free speech must be protected," he said.

"Whatever your political views or whatever you think of Mr Melia's views, I hope you agree with that."

The jury started deliberating on the case on Tuesday afternoon and is due to resume on Wednesday morning.