Fined for a Nazi salute in street to Jewish man
OFFENDER ALSO SAID ‘HEIL HITLER’ TO STRANGER HE CONFRONTED
A JEWISH man was confronted in the street by a stranger who made a Nazi salute at him while saying “heil Hitler”.
David Alan Knight, who targeted his victim in Oadby, said his name was Adolf when his victim asked him who he was.
Knight’s solicitor blamed a combination of mental ill-health and the affects of a head injury for his behaviour.
The 57-year-old appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to racially or religiously aggravated harassment.
The victim encountered Knight in The Parade shopping area shortly after 2pm on May 7, prosecutor Kwok Wan told the court.
The victim was on the phone when Knight walked up to him and stopped.
Mr Wan said Knight said “heil Hitler” twice.
The victim “found the defendant’s behaviour completely unacceptable in this day and age”, Mr Wan said.
At this stage, the victim called police to report the matter, prompting Knight to say: “Would it help if I apologised?’.
Mr Wan said: “Officers spoke to Mr Knight. They asked him what he had done and he demonstrated the Nazi salute.
“He was asked why he had carried out this action and he replied, ‘I don’t like seeing Jews’.”
His solicitor Roshni Modi told the court Knight, of Wigston Road, Oadby, had significant mental health issues and was sorry for his behaviour.
She said he was not accustomed to seeing Jewish people in the town.
She said: “He was followed by the victim, who was recording him, and this caused him to become worked up and he did respond by saying ‘Adolf’ when he was asked for his name.”
Knight sustained a brain injury after he was run over when he was aged 21.
Ms Modi said: “As a result, he suffered a fractured skull and was in a coma for approximately a month.
“This had a long-lasting effect on his brain and, in effect, he had to learn how to eat and walk again.
“He can’t foresee the consequences of his actions. He suffers from chronic depression and anxiety. He is engaging with a psychiatrist.
“He is extremely ashamed of his actions and apologised afterwards. He also expressed remorse during his police interview.”
Magistrates ordered Knight to pay £150 compensation to the victim and fined him £120.