https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-man-admits-making-death-30396199
A Birmingham man has admitted making a death threat to Tommy Robinson and the English Defence League in a video which went viral online. Habeeb Khan appeared to be holding an AK-47 assault rifle in the clip which was viewed over 1.4million times in August this year.
The 49-year-old from Hickman Road, Sparkbrook had been due for trial at Birmingham Crown Court today, Monday, but he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Online Safety Act of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm.
He had previously denied a charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Prosecutor Laurie Scott confirmed the pleas were acceptable and the case was adjourned for sentence on December 19th.
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Khan was remanded into custody. The video was uploaded to social media between August 4 and 6 this year during a period of civil unrest throughout the country.
In it, Khan wore a black cap, face mask, puffer jacket and jeans as well as sunglasses, despite being indoors. Whilst holding what transpired to be a fake AK-47 he addressed a mobile phone camera and said: “Hey Tommy, Tommy Robinson hey, you want to f****** play rough aye? Okay, come on, you want to play rough? I’ll blow you away you f****** cockroach.”
He was then seen to load what looked like a magazine into the weapon before continuing: “EDL we’re coming to f****** blow you away you m************.”
Sunit Sandhu, defending, maintained Khan was not the person who uploaded the video as he had no social media accounts of his own. He added his client had mental health issues and applied for a pre-sentence report.
Judge Melbourne Inman KC granted the request and said: “Stand up Mr Khan. You will be sentenced on the 19th of December. There will be a pre-sentence report, that is not an indication of your sentence but it is important I know as much about you and your background as possible. Until then you are remanded in custody. You may go down.”
