Politics

Former British tax worker sentenced to two years for inciting hatred online

Thomas Webster received a prison term after admitting to multiple hate offenses, according to BBC News.

Updated Sep 7, 2026 · 15:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

Thomas Webster was sentenced to two years in prison at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to 12 counts of inciting racial, religious, and sexual orientation-related hatred.[BBC News]
Webster was exposed after an undercover BBC investigation recorded his comments at far-right Patriotic Alternative events in 2024.[BBC News]
HMRC dismissed Webster following an internal inquiry in February 2025, and police arrested him later that year.[BBC News]
A Substack account appearing to belong to Webster was largely removed before sentencing after the platform was contacted.[BBC News]

Thomas Webster admitted to 10 counts of stirring up racial hatred, one count of stirring up religious hatred, and one count of stirring up hatred based on sexual orientation.[BBC News]
Webster was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Warwick Crown Court.[BBC News]
An undercover BBC reporter recorded Webster at two events hosted by the far-right group Patriotic Alternative in 2024.[BBC News]
Webster was dismissed from his post at HMRC in February 2025 following an internal disciplinary procedure.[BBC News]
Police arrested Webster in September 2025, using his electronic devices to tie him to the hateful accounts.[BBC News]

One post for which Webster was charged remained visible on Substack after other content was removed.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.