Following the revelation that Kevin John Searle who was sentenced to 21 months in August 2024 for violence at a far right march in Weymouth had also admitted to two counts of making indecent photographs and pseudo photographs of a child in April 2022, I decided to investigate how deep this sewer actually is and try to get to the bottom of why so many reported sex offenders are also members of far right groups or have entrenched anti immigrant prejudices.
What is Going On?
Peter Gillett was sentenced to 18 years in 2018. Gillet, it appears, joins a long line of white nationalists who stir up racist hatred. Why would white men who make such a noise about South Asian men being involved in sex crime, have such a sordid past themselves? What I found was very disturbing and destructive, not only for the victims but for society generally.
The far right has long crafted its rhetoric around moral superiority, positioning itself, it appears, as the bastion of family values and societal decency. Within this narrative, they have repeatedly pointed fingers at other communities, particularly Muslims, accusing them of harbouring paedophiles, sex abusers, and other criminals. These accusations are often broadcast with fervour, amplified by media outlets sympathetic to their ideology and eagerly consumed by a public hungry for villains. But a deeper look into the fabric of far-right organisations and individuals reveals a stark and deeply troubling truth: they are riddled with cases of sexual abuse, paedophilia, and predatory behaviour, which they vehemently work to deflect through distraction and projection.
At the heart of the far right’s strategy is a calculated hypocrisy. While they present themselves as protectors of children and communities, evidence repeatedly emerges showing that individuals within their ranks are guilty of the very crimes they denounce. The deliberate focus on targeting Muslims serves two purposes: to stoke Islamophobia and to divert attention away from their own appalling behaviour. By perpetuating myths and moral panics about grooming gangs supposedly dominated by Muslims, they create a smokescreen to shield themselves from scrutiny. This tactic not only harms innocent communities but also obscures the systemic rot within their own ideologies.
One of the most glaring cases that epitomises this hypocrisy is that of Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), the far-right figurehead who has built a career around accusing Muslims of being predators. Robinson has long capitalised on public anger over high-profile grooming gang cases, portraying himself as a crusader for justice. Yet, his personal connections paint a very different picture. For instance, Robinson’s close associate James Delingpole, another vocal anti-Muslim activist, was convicted of possessing indecent images of children. Robinson’s silence on the matter was deafening, a sharp contrast to his relentless outcry against alleged crimes within Muslim communities. This double standard reveals how the far right selectively applies outrage, depending on whether the perpetrator aligns with their ideology.
The far right’s hypocrisy is not limited to individuals like Robinson. A broader look at far-right organisations reveals a disturbing prevalence of sexual abuse among their ranks. In 2021, Mark Collett, a former leader of the British National Party (BNP) youth wing, faced allegations of grooming underage girls. Collett, who has long championed himself as a defender of British culture and values, reportedly exploited his position of authority to prey on vulnerable young women. Though these allegations were widely reported, the far right largely ignored them, refusing to confront the predatory behaviour within their own circles.
The trend extends beyond the UK, exposing a global pattern of abuse within far-right movements. In the United States, figures like Josh Duggar, a prominent conservative Christian and supporter of far-right policies, were exposed for horrific crimes. Duggar, who appeared in a reality TV show that celebrated traditional family values, was convicted of possessing child pornography. Similarly, the American far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos, once celebrated in nationalist circles, admitted to condoning paedophilia in past interviews. Despite initial backlash, Yiannopoulos was later reintegrated into far-right platforms, highlighting their tolerance for abusive behaviour when it serves their ideological agenda.
What makes these cases particularly insidious is how the far right uses Muslims as scapegoats to deflect from their crimes. The grooming gang narrative is a prime example of this strategy. While there have been documented cases of grooming gangs involving men of South Asian heritage, far-right activists have exaggerated and manipulated these incidents to fuel a broader Islamophobic agenda. They cherry-pick data and amplify isolated cases, presenting them as representative of an entire community. Meanwhile, they downplay or outright ignore similar crimes committed by non-Muslims.
A particularly damning example of this tactic occurred in Rotherham, where the horrifying exploitation of children by grooming gangs rightly caused outrage. However, far-right groups seized upon the ethnicity of some perpetrators to stoke anti-Muslim hatred, ignoring the fact that systemic failures by authorities—not the religion of the offenders—were central to the case. More importantly, they ignored comparable scandals involving white perpetrators. For instance, the widespread abuse of young girls in Telford, which predominantly involved white men, received far less attention from far-right activists. This selective outrage underscores their disingenuous motives, revealing that their primary concern is not protecting victims but advancing their xenophobic agenda.
The projection of blame onto Muslims also masks the far right’s deeply ingrained misogyny and predatory behaviour. Far-right ideology often dehumanises women, reducing them to symbols of purity or tools for reproduction rather than respecting their autonomy. This cultural framework creates a fertile ground for abuse, as evidenced by the countless scandals involving far-right figures. For instance, Jack Renshaw, a former member of the British National Party and convicted paedophile, used his position to gain access to young people, exploiting the far right’s male-dominated structures to avoid accountability. Renshaw’s case illustrates how far-right movements not only attract predators but also provide them with a platform to thrive.
The far right’s disdain for accountability is further evident in their handling of allegations against their members. When accusations surface, they are often dismissed as conspiracies or the product of political witch hunts. This was evident in the case of Carl Benjamin, also known as Sargon of Akkad, a UKIP candidate infamous for making misogynistic comments. Despite public outcry, far-right supporters rallied around Benjamin, framing him as a victim of liberal censorship rather than acknowledging his harmful rhetoric. This pattern of denial and deflection enables predators within their ranks to avoid scrutiny, perpetuating a cycle of abuse.
By contrast, the far right’s attacks on Muslims rely on collective blame, holding entire communities responsible for the actions of individuals. This double standard is not only unjust but also profoundly damaging. It perpetuates stereotypes, fuels hate crimes, and isolates innocent people who are unfairly targeted based on their religion or ethnicity. Moreover, it distracts from the far right’s own failures, allowing them to evade accountability while projecting their sins onto others.
The harm caused by this scapegoating extends beyond individual communities, poisoning societal discourse and undermining efforts to address abuse comprehensively. By fixating on Muslims, the far right diverts attention from the broader issue of systemic abuse, which spans all demographics and requires nuanced solutions. This myopic focus not only leaves many victims without justice but also allows predators within far-right circles to continue operating with impunity.
One of the most tragic aspects of this dynamic is how it exploits genuine victims for political gain. Survivors of grooming gangs and sexual abuse deserve justice and support, but their experiences are often weaponised by far-right activists to advance Islamophobic narratives. This exploitation not only re-traumatises survivors but also undermines public trust in their stories, as they become entangled in divisive political agendas. By turning victims into pawns, the far right demonstrates a callous disregard for their well-being, prioritising ideology over humanity.
The media plays a crucial role in perpetuating this cycle of projection and hypocrisy. Far-right narratives about grooming gangs and Muslim predators are often amplified by sensationalist reporting, which prioritises shock value over accuracy. Headlines emphasising the ethnicity or religion of offenders fuel public fear and anger, creating fertile ground for far-right ideologies to take root. Meanwhile, cases involving far-right abusers receive comparatively little coverage, allowing their crimes to fade into obscurity. This imbalance in reporting reinforces harmful stereotypes while shielding far-right predators from scrutiny.
Challenging this hypocrisy requires a concerted effort to expose the far right’s patterns of abuse and projection. Journalists, activists, and policymakers must work together to hold far-right organisations accountable, ensuring that their crimes are not overlooked or downplayed. This includes investigating allegations of abuse within their ranks, amplifying the voices of survivors, and dismantling the structures that enable predatory behaviour. Additionally, public discourse must move beyond simplistic narratives about grooming gangs, recognising that sexual abuse is a complex issue that transcends ethnicity and religion.
Efforts to address abuse must also confront the far right’s exploitation of victims and scapegoating of Muslims. This involves challenging Islamophobia in all its forms, from overt hate speech to insidious stereotypes. Communities must come together to reject divisive narratives, fostering solidarity and mutual understanding. By standing against bigotry and hypocrisy, society can begin to dismantle the toxic ideologies that allow abuse to flourish.
The far right’s pattern of sexual abuse and projection is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by their ideology. Beneath their façade of moral superiority lies a culture of exploitation and denial, which harms victims and communities alike. By exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their narratives, society must begin to hold the far right accountable for their actions, ensuring that justice is served and that no community is unfairly targeted. We must take this sickness much more seriously and expose those who are involved in such heinous crimes and hypocrisy.
