In a dramatic courtroom moment, a former Royal Marine and ex-football apprentice at Manchester United was cleared of all charges in just 17 minutes.
Jamie Michael, 46, from Penygraig, southeast Wales, was accused of inciting racial hatred online, but the jury at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court swiftly acquitted him.
His case sparked widespread debate about free speech, the justice system, and the balance between expressing opinions and inciting harm.
From the Battlefield to the Courtroom
Michael, a veteran of the Iraq War and a peacekeeper in Sierra Leone, found himself behind bars for 20 days following his arrest.
His troubles began when he posted a 12-minute video on Facebook titled “This is what I think” on July 31 last year.
The post came just two days after the shocking murder of three young girls in Southport by Axel Rudakubana, amidst growing unrest over immigration issues.
In his video, Michael urged people to “get ready”—but he clarified that he wasn’t calling for violence. “We need to start organizing.
Which doesn’t mean getting bats and knives and doing what they [the rioters] are doing,” he stated.
Instead, he encouraged people to form groups, hold meetings, and engage with politicians, the police, and local councils.
However, some of his words were deemed inflammatory, particularly when he referred to newly arrived immigrants as “psychopaths” and suggested keeping “scumbags” out of his community.
A Case That Sparked Political Tension
Michael’s video was flagged to the police by a staff member from the office of Buffy Williams, a Labour member of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament).
Reflecting on the situation, Michael believes his arrest was politically motivated.
“I expressed my fear that the Labour Party was enabling more migration, and that’s why my video was seen as political,” he told The Telegraph.
His arrest on August 9 led to three days in police custody before he was denied bail, despite his only prior conviction being a driving offense from 14 years ago.
Prosecutors even suggested he posed a risk of committing “further offenses” and hinted at possible “terrorist intentions”—accusations that deeply shocked him.
One of his lowest moments came when he had to sing “Happy Birthday” to his nine-year-old daughter over the phone from jail.
A Life of Service and Struggles
Michael’s background is one of dedication and sacrifice.
Before joining the Royal Marines, he was an apprentice footballer with Manchester United, Oxford United, and Cardiff City.
After serving in Iraq in 2003, he worked in private security roles in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
His challenges didn’t end there—he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer in 2014.
Despite his military service and hardships, Michael now feels betrayed by his own country.
He believes free speech is under threat and that there is a “two-tier” justice system punishing those who speak out.
Legal Battle and Acquittal
Michael’s defense was backed by the Free Speech Union (FSU), which covered his legal fees and arranged representation by solicitor Luke Gittos and barrister Adam King.
Prosecutors argued that his language was “unrelentingly negative” towards migrants, but his defense maintained that he was only referring to violent individuals—not all migrants.
On February 4, the jury delivered their unanimous verdict in record time.
Expecting a long wait, Michael was handed a cup of tea—only to be called back in just over a quarter of an hour to hear his acquittal.
A Wider Debate on Free Speech
Michael sees his case as part of a bigger issue.
“Millions of other people have the same concerns about unvetted and unchecked males coming into the country after throwing away their passports,” he said.
“I think there are many people in jail today who shouldn’t be there.”
Ironically, despite the prosecution, his video remains online on Facebook, where it has now been viewed over 16,000 times.
Political Reactions and Future Concerns
The Free Speech Union celebrated the verdict, calling the prosecution an “attack on free speech.”
A spokesperson for the FSU stated: “Jamie urged people to protest peacefully, yet he found himself facing imprisonment for expressing views that—however objectionable to some Welsh Labour politicians—were lawful.”
Labour politician Elizabeth “Buffy” Williams responded to the controversy, explaining that her team followed standard procedures when concerns were raised about the video.
“It isn’t up to me or my team to decide what’s right or wrong—that’s for the justice system,” she said.
What’s Next?
Michael’s ordeal has reignited debates around freedom of speech, online content policing, and political influence on legal proceedings.
While he is now a free man, the experience has left him disillusioned with the country he once served.
Whether his case will have broader implications for similar prosecutions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—his story has sparked a conversation that isn’t going away anytime soon.
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