Sean Allen, 43, of Mount Durand, St Peter Port, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to admit the offence which came under the island’s telecommunications law.
Prosecuting Advocate Phoebe Cobb told the court that on Sunday 5 July this year, he had sent a message to the GICT in which he said they had ‘no right’ to be in the island.
‘You build it and I will destroy it and I will take you out,’ he continued. The message went to four of the charity’s directors and a complaint was made to police later that week. In interview following his arrest he said he was depressed and was suffering from anxiety because of what he said was a ‘Muslim invasion’ in the UK and he made various allegations against migrants.
The court heard that in 2020 he had been convicted of similar behaviour as the result of an incident in which he had told Polish and Portuguese nationals that they had no right to be in Guernsey and that they should ‘go home’.
Defending, Advocate Clare Carre said the latest offence related to a single e-mail which it was not disputed was unpleasant and offensive. There had been no physical confrontation or approach to any victim and said the only fear caused had been that of distress. Her client was emotionally unstable and had been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Previous spells in custody had proved detrimental to his mental health.
Deputy Judge Russell Finch said the defendant was not a ‘shining light in the community’. He had nine previous convictions for a total of 15 offences. Many were for violence and the use of knives or blades and he had been sent to prison on a number of occasions. He was also considered to have a very high likelihood of re-offending.
This had been ‘appalling behaviour’ and in order to reflect the court’s disapproval of it and the need to deter others from do the same, only a custodial sentence would be appropriate, he said.