Veteran Tory Colonel Bob Stewart convicted of racially aggravated public order offence
Veteran Tory Colonel Bob Stewart has been found guilty of racially abusing activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. The incident occurred outside the Foreign Office last year, when Stewart told Alwadaei to "go back to Bahrain" and accused him of taking money from the UK. Stewart was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and was convicted at Westminster Magistrates Court.
£600 fine for the MP
Despite the guilty verdict, Colonel Bob Stewart will not face jail time. Instead, he has been fined £600 and ordered to pay additional legal costs, bringing the total to £1,435.
Colonel Bob maintains his innocence
Throughout the trial, Colonel Bob Stewart vehemently denied being racist. He expressed his deep hurt at having to appear in court and insisted that the accusations against him were unfair. Stewart explained that his comment to Alwadaei to "go back to Bahrain" was meant to suggest making his point in his home country, rather than being a derogatory term.
MP's honor at stake
Colonel Bob Stewart also revealed that he felt his honor was at stake during the incident, particularly in front of a large number of ambassadors. He was upset by Alwadaei's accusations of corruption and taking money, which he considered to be extremely offensive.
Not intended as an insult
Stewart clarified that his comment about Alwadaei benefiting from living in the UK was not meant to label him as a freeloader. Rather, he assumed that Alwadaei was also a resident of the country and was simply suggesting that he voice his concerns in his home country instead.
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