24 January 2024 , 22:53
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A far-right activist was caught running an online library of downloadable white supremacist stickers.
Samuel Melia, 34, who's been found guilty of stirring up racial hatred, spearheaded the Hundred Handers, an anonymous group that has taken responsibility for a plethora of anti-immigration 'stickering' incidents between 2019 and 2021.
The Yorkshire organiser for far-right group, Patriotic Alternative, went on trial, facing allegations of distributing controversial downloadable versions of stickers, which not only promoted 'racial hatred' but also actively encouraged those with similar views to commit racially aggravated criminal damage. The court heard, that the members of the Hundred Handers, who refer to themselves as 'hands' would use Melia's service, to print the stickers, which they proceeded to put up in public.
After taking into account all the evidence, the jury at Leeds Crown Court deliberated for three hours before finding the convicted criminal guilty on both counts.
Prosecutors confirmed that the stickers included lines such as “Labour loves Muslim rape gangs," “We will be a minority in our homeland by 2066,” “Mass immigration is white genocide” and “Second-generation? Third? Fourth? You have to go back."
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The stickers have been stuck up across the UK (SWNS)
Sam Melia had posters of Adolf Hitler (SWNS)Melia tried to play down the idea of his stickers causing harm, claiming that he made sure they were not 'intimidatory' and were merely created as the catalyst to 'start a conversation'. Elaborating further, he added that 'stickering' is widespread, and it 'never occurred' to him that his actions could lead to criminal damage.
Speaking to the jurors, prosecutor, Tom Storey KC, alleged that the stickers, which have spread all the way from Cornwall to Northern Ireland, were used as a tool to gain the support of like-minded individuals with 'racist' views, and to “warn or intimidate members of non-Christian religions, or those from non-white races, that they were being targeted."
Revealing the extent of the damage caused, Mr Storey explained that the stickers may have: "Left people concerned about where it might lead, particularly given the rise in hate crimes in recent years." Police arrested Melia in Leeds in April, 2021 under suspicion of publishing or distributing material which may stir up racial hatred.
Subsequently, they searched his property in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, and found a label printer and stickers with slogans such as “It’s ok to be white” and “Natives losing jobs; migrants pouring in." In addition, prosecutors asserted that the man's posters of Adolf Hitler and a book written by the British Union of Fascists, Oswald Mosley, confirmed his ideology.
Melia's group amassed an astonishing 3,500 subscribers, with those committed to the group, printing off stickers and posting them on lamp posts, vending machines, public toilets, train stations, with one even stuck to the door of an MP’s constituency office.
Mr Storey said: “Also found within the defendant’s Telegram posts and chat were messages which make clear that he expected that Hundred Handers stickers would be displayed in public places, and also that he had placed stickers in such places himself. He noted that there was to be a BLM (Black Lives Matter) protest in his town, and that he was going to ‘plaster the surrounding area the night before’.”
Self-called 'pro-British, white advocate' Melia, informed the court he intended for people to put the stickers on 'places people are waiting' including lamp posts, benches and bus stops. He added: "You go around Leeds, and there’s stickers on everything. There must be a reason people are putting them out there."
Having been bailed until March 1 by Judge Tom Baylis, Melia will have to wait to discover his fate.