Man who suggested pelting synagogues with eggs is spared jail

An unemployed man who posted on Facebook suggesting throwing eggs, fruit and stink bombs at synagogues and Jewish businesses has been spared jail.

Michael Brown, 45, responded to a post on the social media site with a suggestion to “target local synagogues and Jewish businesses”, and ended the message with the words: “Does anyone has good recipe for roasted synagogue?”

In his police interview, Brown, of High Street, Newhaven, claimed that his post was a “joke” but he pleaded guilty to sending by public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 1 September), District Judge Sam Goozee gave Brown an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for one year.

The judge said: “The message was targeting of the Jewish community and of their synagogues and Jewish businesses.

“It would be inevitable any member of the community who would read that post would be alarmed by its content.”

The judge said the offence was aggravated by racial hostility.

He said: “It was posted at a time when the backdrop and environment was such it was inevitable the words you used would affect the Jewish community.”

Brown must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Emily Thornton said that the post was made on Saturday 28 February, the day the US and Israel started their war on Iran.

The original post by the Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign had been critical of the war, calling it an “attack on yet another sovereign state”.

The court was told that Brown wrote in his Facebook post: “It’s about time to target local synagogues and Jewish businesses with overripe fruit and stink bombs.

“Let’s all buy a pack of six eggs and pelt the local synagogues. Then we can throw bags of flour. And before you know it, we can make Jewish Muffins.

“Jews have a right to defend themselves using the Bible as a navigation tool. Watch out, these guys eat Pretzels which is just weird.

“What does everyone like to drink with their Jewish Muffins?

“And does anyone has good recipe for roasted synagogue?”

The comment was reported to police that day and Brown was arrested on Sunday 1 March.

Brown sat in the dock, wearing a brown and blue checked jacket with his hair in a bun, with his eyes closed during the hearing.

Four members of his family were sat in the public gallery.

James Yates, defending, said: “At the time of the comments he had recently lost his job and was spending too much time alone by himself isolated and online and becoming emotional over things he was reading.”

He said Brown has now deleted his Facebook account and is engaged in a “wellness programme”, having been diagnosed with ADHD.

Ms Thornton said that in his interview Brown admitted posting the statements but insisted that “it was a joke and he didn’t mean any offence”.

The court heard he has a drink-driving conviction from last June but no other past offences on his record.