Britain First leader and deputy jailed for hate crime

Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen were convicted of religiously-aggravated harassment at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court in Kent today

Golding, 36, and Fransen, 31, were found guilty of the hate crime they had previously denied and were jailed for a total of 54 weeks.

They “demonstrated hostility” towards Muslims with a “campaign to draw attention” to the race of several men convicted of rape.

Surrounded by goons, who later filled the public gallery, the far-right group’s leader flashed a Churchillian V-sign to the assembled media outside court on arrival.

He had been charged with three counts of religiously aggravated harassment. Fransen, his deputy, was accused of four offences and the pair had denied all of the charges.

Golding was convicted of one of the charges, Fransen was convicted of three.

Fransen was accused of going to the home of a Muslim defendant in a rape trial, Tamin Rahmani, and shouting racist abuse through the front door.

Rahmani’s pregnant partner, Kelli Best, said she was alone with their two toddlers, on May 9, 2017.

Two days later she began bleeding heavily and her daughter was stillborn.

The grieving mum told an earlier hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard that she blamed Fransen’s racial abuse for the tragedy.

Kelli, speaking from behind a screen, told the court: “She (Fransen) was making racist remarks: ‘Dirty Muslim rapist, come out, we’re not going to leave until you’re gone, come out. Dirty scumbags.’

She said: “It made me feel very anxious, I didn’t go outside for a long time. I was also pregnant at the time it happened, two days after I started to bleed heavily and lost my daughter, she was stillborn.

“I blame Jayda Fransen, there was no other reason for it to happen.”

A video played in court showed Fransen banging on the door and shouting “Come out and face me you disgusting rapist, come on” but denied using the phrase “Muslim bastards” or saying that all Muslims are rapists.

Golding said he was just acting as Fransen’s cameraman. When asked if he agreed with Fransen’s actions, he said: “Yes.”

Passing his judgement Judge Justin Barron said the two defendants were “well-known” and “controversial.”

He told the court the pair’s words and actions “demonstrated hostility” towards Muslims.