Bolton man sentenced for making ‘racially hostile’ remarks in videos

A Bolton man posted videos online saying he would become a “Christian radical extremist” and “attack every single Muslim”. 

Pedro Cordeiro, 46, posted videos online where he made “racially hostile” remarks against Muslim people in Guinea Bissau. Cordeiro, of Gisburn Avenue in Johnson Fold made the videos in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

He described the Fula Muslim population of the country as “deceitful” and “traitors” as they “sided with the Portuguese during the civil war”. 

Cordeiro also said he was “available to become a Christian radical extremist” and “if needs be” he would “attack every single Muslim”. He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, December 2 for the offences. 

Prosecuting, Marianne Alton told the court how a Muslim man reported the videos to the police on March 22, 2019, saying how he “felt threatened” by the content in them. 

She said: “He also understood him to be well connected to a high-ranking member of the military in his family.” 

Transcripts of his videos were read out, in which he said: “Fula are the evilest (sic) people we have had in the history of Guinea Bissau.”

He added that the people of Guinea Bissau “are afraid Fula will stab them” but that he would “kill them”. 

He also said: “If necessary I will order all mosques in Guinea Bissau to be set on fire.” 

Cordeiro had no previous convictions. 

Defending, Tom Farr said: “The defendant has a prospect of rehabilitation. Mr Cordeiro is of previous good character and he also was gainfully employed, but can’t work anymore due to an injury he suffered at work. 

He has not engaged in criminality previously at all. The pre-sentence report reflects positively on Mr Cordeiro. He is aware the comments he made overstepped the line. The court process has been a sobering experience for him.” 

Cordeiro previously pleaded guilty to malicious communications. 

Concluding, Judge Jon Close said: “By virtue of the crown accepting that plea, they also accept that there was no underlying attempt to stir up racial hatred. Were you to have been sentenced for that, the outcome would have been very different. 

Whilst there was clearly racial hostility associated with your posts, by virtue of your plea and the acceptance of lesser offences, what was absent was the intention to stir up racial hatred.”

He added: “Between 2017 and 2019 you engaged in a series of posts, the intention of which was to cause distress and anxiety. It is self evident they did precisely that. The incendiary nature of such posts was likely to cause considerable stress and anxiety to those who felt targeted by them and the wider populace.” 

He recognised, however, that the behaviour was out of character for Cordeiro and that his references spoke about him in “glowing terms”. 

Judge Close sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He also ordered Cordeiro to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a £500 fine.