Man sentenced for religiously aggravated threatening behaviour

A 57-year-old man has been given an 18-month suspended sentence for religiously aggravated threatening behaviour in North London.

Paul Newman, from Ealing, was given 16 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. Due to the religious aggravation, his sentence was further uplifted by four weeks, making a total of 20 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to comply with 30 days' rehabilitation activity requirement and six months in an alcohol treatment programme. He was ordered to pay £625 prosecution costs and £154 victim surcharge.

Newman approached his victim, an orthodox Jew wearing traditional clothing, on 10 July 2022. The victim had just left his car when Newman threatened him, saying “I’ll blow you up, I’ll blow you up, I’ll blow you up you f**** Jew” whilst making a gun gesture. He then spat at the victim.

The victim flagged down a passing police car and Newman was subsequently arrested, with audio from dashcam footage from the victim’s car and witness evidence used in the successful prosecution. He was found guilty on the 25 October and sentenced at a hearing on 22 November.

Speaking following sentencing, senior crown prosecutor Samantha Thomas Rees said: “Paul Newman approached a Jewish man in traditional clothing, who he did not know and was going about his own business, and shouted threatening abuse, based on his appearance. There is no evidence that the victim did anything to precipitate this verbal attack. 

“Mr Newman had been drinking heavily before the event, but this can be no excuse for his actions.

“A wholly innocent man was verbally threatened based on his religious beliefs. The victim was rightly extremely upset and frightened about what might happen.

“While Mr Newman may have apologised for his actions during his police interview, this sentence should leave no-one in any doubt that hate crimes like this will not be tolerated, and we will always seek to prosecute where the evidence allows.”

Varinder Hayre, CPS London North Hate Crime Lead and the prosecuting advocate on 22 November when Mr Newman was sentenced, added: “London is a diverse City and it is completely unacceptable for the Jewish community to be subjected to this kind of antisemitic hatred. Hate crime will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted robustly.

“I’d also like to thank the Metropolitan Police for their diligence in helping to ensure justice for the victim and providing victim support.”