Conspiracy theorist admits defacing seventeen bus stops in North London neighbourhoods with “Jews and gays are aliens” and other graffiti but denies antisemitic motivation

A conspiracy theorist has admitted defacing seventeen bus stops in London with graffiti, including the words “Jews and gays are aliens”.

Nicholas Lalchan, 47, has admitted criminal damage, causing £100 worth of damage to each stop and to the windows of an accountancy firm. However, he denied any religious or racial motivation, in spite of what he wrote on the bus stops in heavily-Jewish neighbourhoods such as Finchley, Hendon and Edgware.

The prosecutor told jurors that the graffiti “encouraged people to make searches on the internet” which would lead them to “think badly” of Jewish people. He added that “they were seen by Jewish people and non-Jewish people who were distressed by what they saw and reported it to the police.”

A still image of the vandal was recognised by a community support officer and he was arrested at his home in Edmonton. A search of his home reportedly revealed leaflets, pens and a memory stick holding material referencing Jewish people and conspiracy theories.

When he was charged, Mr Lalchan allegedly said: “New world order. The fourth Reich. We will see.”

Mr Lalchan was charged with racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage and with possessing a marker pen with intent to cause criminal damage and stirring up racial hatred, and his trial continues at Aldersgate House in the City of London, a Nightingale court opened to speed up the backlog of cases caused by the pandemic.