Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins has been found guilty of malicious communication over a Facebook post that said people from Nigeria should be “melted down” to fill potholes. BBC News reports the judge describes the post as “grossly offensive”, and multiple outlets say he had argued it was not meant literally.

The case follows an earlier investigation by Northumbria Police after the post was uncovered and the issue became public before or around his election to Sunderland council. The Guardian reports he was given a community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work, by South Tyneside magistrates. Metro and the Guardian also describe how he claimed the remark was “naughty” rather than a literal proposal, with the prosecution focusing on the offensive imagery and dehumanising implication.

Across outlets, the core facts and legal outcome are consistent: Gibbins is convicted over the same social media wording, and he was suspended by Reform UK after the post came to light. Differences mainly concern the timing emphasis (trial versus conviction) and how each publication frames the conduct, including whether it highlights the sentencing details or the judge’s characterisation of the offence.