A YouTube livestreamer who took pictures through the windows of a hotel known to house asylum-seekers has pleaded guilty to racial hatred.

Aaron Johnson, of Criterion Street, North Reddish, Stockport, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 7.

Prosecutor Laura Peers said Johnson had been hosting a livestream with ‘millions’ of views on YouTube outside a Stockport hotel on Monday, August 5.

After members of staff became concerned for the welfare of hotel residents, they approached Johnson, who was said to have become aggressive towards them and started saying residents at the hotel had been putting bricks through vehicles, of which he was said to have no evidence.

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Ms Peers went on to describe how Johnson had said he would ‘smash the staff members’ face in’ had he not been on the livestream.

After police obtained the livestream, Ms Peers said they found he had repeatedly referred to migrants in a ‘derogatory and racist manner’.

Ms Peers said Johnson had exposed occupants of the hotel to a ‘real danger’, with his YouTube channel, which was said to have a ‘significant number of subscribers’.

Defending, duty solicitor David Philpott said Johnson knew he had done wrong and had entered a guilty plea.

District judge Jane Hamilton refused bail to Johnson, referencing a previous conviction involving throwing items at other fans at football matches.

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She said: “In relation to this incident, it appears you have no reason to attend at the hotel where you were livestreaming.

“You made threats to various staff working there.

“It looks like you were taking pictures through the windows where people were trying to sleep, and you also made reference to the children who were unfortunately murdered in Southport – which had nothing to do with asylum seekers or anybody else.

“The man who did that was born in this country, so there is no reason whatsoever for this offence to occur.

“I do believe if you were granted bail, you would go on to commit further offences.”

Johnson will appear at Manchester Minshull Street on Wednesday, August 21, where he may be sentenced or the judge may order a pre-sentence report.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.