Conservative MP found guilty of racially abusing activist

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A Tory MP has been found guilty of racial abuse after telling an activist to "go back to Bahrain". Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham, south-east London, also told Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei "you're taking money off my country, go away" during a row outside the Foreign Office's Lancaster House on December 14 last year.

The 74-year-old was attending an event hosted by the Bahraini embassy when protester Mr Alwadaei shouted: "Bob Stewart, for how much did you sell yourself to the Bahraini regime?” During the heated exchange, Stewart said: "Go away, I hate you.

You make a lot of fuss. Go back to Bahrain.” In footage played during a trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, he could also be heard saying: "Now shut up, you stupid man." Read more: The corrupt police analyst who told serious villains 'WhatsApp for criminals' had been hacked Read more: He abused and belittled them for years - but their incredible bravery has put him behind bars for decades Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring found the MP guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence and handed him a fine of £600 plus additional legal costs at £1,435.

Mr Goldspring noted Stewart's "immense positive character" but added: "I accept he is not racist per se, but that is not the case against him. “Good men can do bad things.” Stewart, who was asked for his thoughts on the allegations, earlier said: "That’s absurd, it’s totally unfair, my life has been, I don’t want to say destroyed, but I am deeply hurt at having to appear in a court like this.” The MP declared: “I am not a racist.” He continued: “He was saying that I was corrupt and that I had taken money. “My honour was at stake in front of a large number of ambassadors.