One of Britain’s most depraved, prolific far right anti-semitic video streamers has been jailed for creating hateful content that was viewed more than two million times.
Richard Hesketh, 36, had over 10,000 subscribers on BitChute, a video hosting service popular with members of the far right and conspiracy theorists, where he would upload sickening videos attacking the Jewish community.
Hesketh’s campaign of abuse saw him create an “alter ego”, known as George, where he would dress up in a horrific caricature of a Jewish man using offensive stereotypes.
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Whilst acting as George, Hesketh, of Hollin Lane, Middleton, would put on a false voice, and used a variety of Yiddish expressions.
His horrific videos, which had amassed over two million views, were made in his spare bedroom and often celebrated far right terrorism and supported violence against Jewish people.
Manchester Crown Court heard Hesketh first came to the attention of the authorities when anti-semitism charity The Community Security Trust (CST) contacted counter terrorism police to alert them to the videos uploaded to his profile on BitChute.
Officers raided his home and found “numerous” mobile phones and packs of sim cards, which contained a large amount of anti-semitic imagery on the devices along with information on conspiracy theories.
Police said he showed 'no remorse' for his crimes and even continued to create videos after he was initially released under investigation following his arrest.
Addressing him in court, Mr Justice Dove said: “A significant part of the broadcast involved interacting with your audience and perpetuating extreme racist propaganda, stirring up racial hatred for Jewish people.
“This could have had potential consequences which were totally unimaginable in both width and breadth.
“This was a stubborn perpetuation of publishing this material even when those who were hosting this material stated how unacceptable it was.”
The court heard Hesketh had seen his content deleted from other social media platforms, but had continued to create the “vile matter” in an attempt to grow his reach online.
Mr Justice Dove continued: “These are early day and you must prove yourself.
“You have caused serious hurt to your fiance of many years, which I have taken into consideration.
“I find the appropriate sentence to be one of six years, which will be reduced to four years after taking into consideration the credit from your early guilty plea, for each of these seven charges, to be served concurrently to one another.
“Take him down please.”
After the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: "Hesketh shared as well as created hundreds of shockingly offensive videos and content on social media, which undoubtedly incited hatred towards the Jewish community.
"In police interview Hesketh showed no remorse and even continued to upload offensive material to his social media channels after he was released under investigation.
"Hesketh enjoyed viewing videos of serious attacks on Jewish people and even made comments referring to his disappointment that the attacker in one video did not kill the victim, showing just how depraved his beliefs are.
“Peddling this mind set across the internet is dangerous and at the same time incredibly upsetting to our communities.
"This case highlights that right wing terrorism will not be tolerated in any shape or form and we will do all we can to bring these offenders to justice.
"I am pleased that Hesketh will no longer be able to continue his campaign of abuse and I really do hope that his time in prison is spent reflecting upon his appalling behaviour".
Mark Gardner, Chief Executive of The Community Security Trust, said: “Richard Hesketh was one of Britain’s most prolific far right anti-semitic video streamers and his anti-Jewish hatred was viewed millions of times by his online audience.
“We are pleased to have helped bring this antisemite to justice and we are grateful to Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their efforts in putting him in prison.”
Mr Williams, defending, told the hearing that Hesketh was a man of previous good character who had never been convicted of a crime before, and his employer had provided a very positive letter in support of him.
Hesketh had also written a letter expressing how much he regretted what he had done, but Mr Justice Dove also noted that another report stated the defendant seemed to have “very little empathy for the victims” impacted by his crimes.
