Neo-Nazi jailed over mock Ku Klux Klan lynching at motorcycle clubhouse
Members of Valley Commandos Motorcycle Club say hosting far-right gig was 'mistake'
A NEO-Nazi who posted images of himself online performing a mock Ku Klux Klan lynching at a motorcycle clubhouse has been jailed for 12 months.
Christopher Philips, a 24-year-old graduate and kickboxing instructor with Asperger's syndrome, wore white robes and a hood and hanged a life-size golliwog doll during a far-right music gig at the Valley Commandos Motorcycle Club in Abercynon, Wales, in 2013.
He was arrested by counter-terrorism officers after the footage was posted on Facebook and YouTube.
Philips, of Wednesfield in the West Midlands, was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court for distributing material intended to stir up racial hatred. He was also given an anti-social behaviour order banning him from attending extremist events, making racist gestures and distributing racist material.
The gig, on March 9 last year, was organised by 'Blood and Honour', the musical wing of far-right group Combat 18. It followed a far-right demonstration in Swansea.
One Valley Commandos member told a local paper: “It was a f****** mistake, it should not have happened.
“It was just a bit of a let down for us, it was something that should not have happened.
“We are a motorcycle club and that is all we are.”
Another, Gwyn Davies, said he had “heard of Combat 18, but I had not heard of Blood and Honour”.
“Everyone was cringing and embarrassed because we have got black people in the club and I have got black friends,” Gwyn said.
“They would be run out of town if they tried to come back.”
He added: “These people have hired the room twice.
“But there were no reports from the first function.
“The second time this came out. We didn’t know they were a massive Nazi group or whatever. I don’t know what name they booked it under."