Man found guilty of racially aggravated crimes after telling colleagues that “Hitler should have finished the job” and etch swastika into piece of metal at work

A man has been found guilty of racially aggravated crimes after he told his colleagues that “Hitler should have finished the job” and etched a swastika into a piece of metal at work.

On a Friday in February 2019, Shane Pegg, a former employee of a London-based steel company, made antisemitic comments towards a colleague. When the company’s owner witnessed the abuse on the CCTV, he intervened and escorted Mr Pegg off of the premises and locked the building’s gates.

Mr Pegg reached through the gates, slapped his colleague, and fled the scene on his scooter. He returned to verbally abuse both his colleague and the company owner, shouting antisemitic hate speech which was directed at both of them. This included the phrases “Hitler should have finished the job” and “f*****g Jews.”

On the following Monday, it was discovered at the defendant’s work area that a swastika had been etched into a metal bar and the word “c**t” was found on some plastic sheeting. CCTV captured Mr Pegg carrying out these actions.

Mr Pegg was charged with racially aggravated criminal damage and criminal damage, as well as racially aggravated abusive behaviour. He pleaded guilty to the charge of racially aggravated criminal damage, but not guilty to the charge of racially aggravated abusive behaviour. However, he was found guilty on both counts.  

At Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Mr Pegg was sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work and twenty days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and an £85 surcharge.

Image credit: Google