Farnworth man jailed for 'vile anti-semitic abuse' incidents

Farnworth man Robert Taylor, 42, filmed himself approaching a Jewish man at a car boot sale in Tyldesley in May 2021, verbally abusing him with anti-semitic comments.

A few months later he shared a propaganda video featuring a proscribed organisation on social media and over the following months put anti-semitic posters up around Bolton before his arrest.

Detective Superintendent Ben Cottam, Head of Investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “Robert Taylor’s actions over the time leading up to his arrest are nothing short of sickening.

“He subjected innocent people to vile anti-semitic abuse, including a family with two young children who were enjoying a day out.

The case was heard at Manchester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

“Not content with abusing people in person, he attempted to spread his ignorant views wider by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and scrawling graffiti on walls in public places.

“Taylor would then brag about his exploits on social media and use it as a platform to share more anti-semitic, racist, homophobic, and transphobic content.

“On one occasion he even shared a propaganda video for a proscribed organisation on social media and was later found to have sent a similar video to somebody directly.”

Taylor also graffitied existing posters with anti-semitic rhetoric, stuck white supremacy stickers to street signs, and handed out racist flyers to members of the public.

He also regularly bragged what he was doing on his social media accounts, as well as posting anti-semitic, racist, homophobic, and transphobic content.

In July 2022, he returned to the same car boot sale he had visited the year before and targeted a Jewish family with verbal abuse and made various references to the Holocaust.

The following month he attended a protest in Bolton and was seen hurling anti-semitic insults at a member of the public.

Taylor’s online activity was initially identified by the Community Security Trust charity and reported to police.

After arresting him in February 2023, police examined Taylor’s electronic devices.

They found he had information on the manufacture of explosives which may be useful to someone who commits or prepares acts of terrorism.

He had also sent a propaganda video for a proscribed organisation to another person.

Brought before Manchester Crown Court Taylor, of Ullswater Drive, Farnworth, pleaded guilty various counts of inciting racial hatred.

He admitted to four counts of distributing written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent thereby to stir up racial hatred.

Taylor also confessed to two counts of distributing recordings of visual images which were threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent thereby to stir up racial hatred.

He also admitted to a further count of displaying written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent thereby to stir up racial hatred.

Taylor pleaded guilty to publishing a moving image to arose suspicion that he was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

He admitted to possession a document containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, a count of distributing a terrorist publication.

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Taylor also admitted to a count of publishing and distributing written material which was threatening to stir up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Finally, he pleaded guilty to distributing visual images which were threatening with the intent thereby to stir up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

DS Cottam said: “I’m grateful to the Community Security Trust for reporting Taylor’s online activity to police, and I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that we are prepared to act decisively on reports such as these.

“Ignorance like that shown by Taylor has no place in society and, working alongside key partners such as the CST, we will continue to support communities targeted by abuse and ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions.”

Taylor was jailed for four years with a year’s extended licence period and was made subject to a serious crime prevention order for five years after his release.