Free speech campaigner mocks his 'hate speech' conviction (UK)

Free speech campaigner mocks his 'hate speech' conviction

A Scottish YouTuber has mocked his conviction claiming he now has a criminal record for “hurting people’s feelings”.

Markus Meechan, who was charged last year, after posting a video of a dog raising its paw like a Nazi salute, mocked being convicted for “hurting people’s feelings”. Speaking to Julia Hartley-Brewer on talkRADIO, Mr Meechan explained how he was waiting for the “cops to come and get me”. He said: “A criminal record and an £800 fine which I have refused to pay.

“I have not paid it. To prove it wasn’t about the money I donated £800 to a children’s hospital instead.

“I have still refused to pay the fine and it is past the fresh-hold now, so it now a case of waiting for the cops to come and get me.”

When asked what would he do if the police wanted to put him in prison until the payment was made, Mr Meechan said: “They can do, I’m not going to pay the money.

“I was literacy convicted for causing gross offence. Which basically means I hurt peoples feelings.

“I have got a criminal record and possible prison sentence because I offended people, that literally is what I was convicted for.”

Last year Mr Meechan was fined £800 after training his girlfriend’s dog to perform a Nazi salute.

Mr Meechan was found guilty under the Communications Act over the video which was viewed more than 3 million times.

Commenting on the video, Mr Meechan said: “You get the odd people that are trying to say that I am secretly seeking to spread Nazi views and that type of stuff.

“It is just because they have no idea of the type of comedy that we like on the internet.

“If these guys sat with their tin-foil hats on think that I am some sort of secret reincarnation of Hitler, then they can, if they want to look ridiculous they can do that.”

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