Man who posted ‘Nazi dog’ videos guilty of hate crime

● Dog raised paw after statements like ‘gas the Jews’

A man who filmed a pet dog giving Nazi salutes before putting the footage on Youtube has been convicted of committing a hate crime.

Mark Meechan, 30, recorded his girlfriend’s pug, Buddha, responding to statements such as “gas the Jews” and “Sieg Heil” by raising its paw.

But after complaints about the content police were called in and he was arrested for allegedly committing a hate crime by uploading the footage on to the popular video sharing website in April 2016.

The original clip had been viewed more than three million times on Youtube.

Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, went on trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court where he denied any wrongdoing. He insisted he made the video to annoy his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 29.

However, Sheriff Derek O’carroll found him guilty of a charge under the Communications Act that he posted a video on social media and Youtube which was grossly offensive because it was “antisemitic and racist in nature” and was aggravated by religious prejudice.

Sheriff O’carroll told the court he did not believe Meechan had made the video only to annoy his girlfriend and ruled it was anti-semitic.

He also said he believed Meechan, who was supported at court by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, left video on Youtube to drive traffic to other material.

He added: “The description of the video as humorous is no magic wand. This court has taken the freedom of expression into consideration. But the right to freedom of expression also comes with responsibility. The accused is quite obviously an intelligent and articulate man.

“The accused knew that the material was offensive and knew why it was offensive. Despitethattheaccusedmade a video containing anti-semitic content and he would have known it was grossly offensive to many Jewish people.”

Sheriff O’carroll deferred sentence on Meechan until 23 April for background reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.

Speaking outside court Meechan, a first offender, said: “I think it is a very dark day in regards to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.”

Comedian Ricky Gervais took to Twitter to comment on the case after the verdict.

He said: “If you don’t believe in a person’s right to say things that you might find ‘grossly offensive’, then you don’t believe in Freedom of Speech.”