# Reform councillor found guilty of offensive message about Nigerians

> Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins sentenced to community order after posting Facebook comment suggesting Nigerians should be 'melted down and used to fill in potholes'.
- Title: Reform councillor found guilty of offensive message about…
- Summary: Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins sentenced to community order after posting Facebook comment suggesting Nigerians should be 'melted down and used to fill…
- Keywords: glenn gibbins, reform uk, sunderland city council, hope not hate, communications act, nigerians, potholes, community order, unpaid work, facebook post, tongue-in-cheek joke, ethnic minority
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16277943/Reform-councillor-said-Nigerians-melted-used-potholes-guilty-sending-grossly-offensive-message.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-11-09T15:57:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: glenn gibbins, reform uk, sunderland city council, hope not hate, communications act, nigerians, potholes, community order, unpaid work, facebook post, tongue-in-cheek joke, ethnic minority
## Gibbins accused of offensive post
Sunderland City councillor Glenn Gibbins was found guilty of posting a grossly offensive message on Facebook two years before election.

> Carnt [sic] believe the amount of nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!
## Post discovered by campaign group
Hope Not Hate campaign group uncovered the offensive post when Gibbins was announced as Reform UK candidate for Sunderland City Council.
## Gibbins denied it was serious
Gibbins claimed the post was a 'tongue-in-cheek joke' made after a few beers and not meant to be taken literally.
## Prosecution called it offensive
Prosecutor Emma Dowling said the comment implied Nigerians were 'somewhat less than human' and suggested they could be 'eradicated'.
## Gibbins suspended by Reform
Gibbins was suspended by Reform UK in August after the post was discovered and he was elected to represent Hylton Castle ward in May.
## Gibbins' defense dismissed
His defense argued it was an 'unpleasant joke/non-joke' similar to comedians joking about gypsies in the Holocaust without prosecution.
## Community leader expressed distress
Nigerian community leader Godwin Ejeh said residents were 'distressed' for their safety and children's safety after the post.
## Gibbins accepted post was offensive
Judge Passfield found Gibbins admitted the post was offensive but not 'grossly so' and maintained it was a joke.
## Gibbins sentenced to community order
Gibbins received a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work after being found guilty of the offensive post.
## Gibbins plans to appeal
Gibbins' legal team said he plans to appeal the decision at Crown Court after being suspended by Reform UK.
## Key takeaway

Sunderland City councillor Glenn Gibbins was found guilty of sending a grossly offensive message after posting on Facebook that Nigerians should be 'melted down and used to fill in potholes'.