Man jailed for shouting ‘heil Hitler’ and ‘go have a sausage sandwich’ at Jewish family in London
‘It is hard to believe that crimes like this are still being committed,’ prosecutors say
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A man has been jailed for shouting, “one, two, three, heil Hitler!” at a Jewish family on a London bus.
David Aherne also told the family to “go have a sausage sandwich” during the antisemitic rant aboard the 149 bus in Hackney.
After police were called, Aherne even threatened to pull down his trousers in front of the children when their parents tried to prevent him getting off the bus, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Elaine Cousins, a senior Crown prosecutor in north London, said in a statement: “This was a cruel verbal attack on people simply going about their business. The family were subjected to extremely racist and offensive language during the tirade.
“It is hard to believe that crimes like this are still being committed. Unfortunately for the victim and his family, the flagrant disregard and respect for other races and religions shown was exposed in the most offensive of displays.
“The incident was acutely distressing for the family and the wider Jewish community, some of whom were present.”
She added: “Antisemitism has no place in our society and the CPS will prosecute those who carry out hate crimes where there is the evidence to do so.”
Aherne, 54, of Tottenham, admitted one count each of racially and religiously aggravated intentional harassment.
The incident took place on 10 July and Aherne pleaded guilty on 13 August.
He was jailed for 12 weeks at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday.