Telford man arrested after FBI tip-off over racist rants on YouTube is spared jail
Philip Whitehouse posted the comments on the video platform between January 26 and March 28 last year
A Telford man who posted “overtly racist” comments on YouTube that caught the eye of the FBI, who informed West Mercia Police, has been spared jail.
Philip Whitehouse of George Chetwood Court, Dawley, posted the comments on the video platform between January 26 and March 28 last year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Wednesday.
Danny Smith, prosecuting, said the 46-year-old’s racist tirades were spotted by US law enforcement agency the FBI.
He told the court: “Police received an FBI report regarding 20 comments on the YouTube video platform. The messages were overtly racist.”
He said Whitehouse comments were mainly aimed at black people, using the N-word to say such things as “I hate all N-” and “Kill the b*stards”.
He also referred to hating all Muslims, as well as the police, in which he said they should be killed, before daring them to arrest him.
Mr Smith said, despite these racist tirades, after his arrest, Whitehouse denied being racist or holding far-right views though admitted his actions.
“He said he was angry at the poster but did not consider himself a racist or holding far-right views but he said he did not have any intention to harm black people, Muslims or anyone else,” he said.
“This was not targeted at any individual,” Mr Smith added, saying that Whitehouse had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to sending communications of an offensive nature at a magistrates hearing earlier this year.
Rosemary Proctor, defending, said Whitehouse was “deeply ashamed” of his online rants.
Judge Julian Taylor told the defendant: “If this had been a sentence without the racist language it would be community order but this crosses the custody threshold.”
However, he said he would not be imposing an immediate jail sentence.
“I know how ashamed you are as you have written to me,” said the judge. “You have not had an easy lifestyle as you have been a carer for both parents for a number of years. I know this was out of character for you but it is not the way to behave. There was racist language. I could send you to prison but I’m not.”
He sentenced Whitehouse to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days with the probation service as well as pay £150 in court costs.