A man who called for mosques to be burned with worshippers inside during the recent riots in the UK has been sentenced to two years in prison. Geraint Boyce, 43, from Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, pleaded guilty to publishing material intended to incite religious hatred after making several inflammatory posts on Facebook following the tragic murder of three children at a Taylor Swift dance event in Southport.
At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, the judge described Boyce’s posts as containing “threatening material” and noted they encouraged actions that could endanger lives. Prosecutor Alex Orndal highlighted that the posts reflected “far-right rhetoric” motivated by religious and racial hatred, with the social unrest at the time providing important context.
The investigation began after Buffy Williams, the Member of Senedd for Rhondda, alerted the police to Boyce’s posts in early August. His messages included calls to burn mosques while worshippers were inside and sink boats with their occupants. One post declared, “I’m ready for war,” while others featured the union flag and expressed anti-Islamic sentiments.
Mr. Orndal characterized Boyce’s remarks as “calls to action,” not mere idle threats. Upon his arrest, Boyce inquired if it was related to his online activities during the riots but later declined to answer questions from police.
Defense attorney Nick Gedge stated that Boyce felt ashamed of his actions and recognized the error of his views, which he attributed to influences from online content.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke emphasized that Boyce’s threats to incite violence were particularly concerning given the sensitive social climate. While his sentence was reduced due to an early guilty plea, the judge concluded that immediate custody was the only appropriate response.
