BNP leader cleared in court
BNP leader Nick Griffin, who was filmed giving a speech by an undercover BBC reporter, was this afternoon cleared of race hate charges. The 47-year-old Cambridge graduate lives in Mid Wales.
The 47-year-old Cambridge graduate, pictured, who lives in Mid Wales, was found not guilty at Leeds Crown Court of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred during a speech he made in Keighley, West Yorks, in 2004.
Mr Griffin, of Llanerfyl, near Welshpool, denied one count of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred and an alternative count of using words or behaviour likely to stir up racial hatred.
The BNP's head of publicity Mark Collett, 26, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was also cleared of similar charges.
He denied two charges of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred and two alternative counts of using words or behaviour likely to stir up racial hatred. These charges also relate to speeches he made in Keighley.
They were both cleared a day after the jury retired to consider its verdicts.
