Ex-barrister sentenced for antisemitic comments

A former barrister has been sentenced for posting a "continuous barrage of offensive" antisemitic comments online.

Ian Millard, of Pennington in Hampshire, was found guilty of sending five offensive messages via his online blog between April and December 2021.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard they contained allegations western media were controlled by Jewish people.

Millard was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation days to encourage him to "widen his perspective".

Sentencing the 67-year-old, district judge Anthony Callaway said he rejected Millard's claim that "there were no victims" of his actions.

He said: "It was directed at a racial group, which as the law presently stands, the law was designed to protect."

Millard was disbarred following disciplinary proceedings in 2016 by the Bar Standards Board, which found he had made "seriously offensive" posts on social media.

A CPS spokesman said: "Statements made by Millard included that 'there is nothing wrong with being antisemitic', that England would 'be a great deal better' with more antisemitism and suggestions that the Holocaust was 'fake history'."

The spokesperson said prosecutors worked with police to go through 12 months' worth of evidence and one month of posts totalling 450 pages.

They added: "At trial, prosecutors utilised the evidence to prove Millard was not simply expressing his freedom of speech, but was engaged in a campaign of antisemitic hate, publishing grossly offensive material which breached the Communications Act."

Sophie Stevens, deputy chief crown prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: "It is particularly shocking that a former barrister, who is meant to engage the law in the pursuit of justice, would express such flagrant hatred."

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