A CHESHIRE man has been put behind bars after filming himself shouting abuse outside a church where a migrant support group was being held.

Cheshire Police said the incident occurred ‘during the period of national disorder’ following the Southport knife attacks.

John Lefevre was previously warned that he faced an immediate prison sentence when hea appeared before Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month, via video-link from HM Prison Altcourse.

The 35-year-old appeared back in court on Tuesday, where he was subsequently incarcerated.

The court previously heard how the defendant, when asked how he pleaded to a charge of racially aggravated harassment, said: “Guilty on my video.”

In footage uploaded to Lefevre’s Facebook page, he could be heard shouting abuse at people outside Trinity Methodist Church, on Peel House Lane in Widnes.

Cheshire Police officers attended after receiving a call at around 9.30am on Monday, August 5, reporting a man was hurling racial abuse at people near the building.

He approached them in an aggressive manner while recording them on his phone, the force said.

Events are held at the building every Monday to help migrants with tasks such as filing paperwork and setting up bank accounts.

At one point in the video, he is heard shouting towards one man: “You one-armed c***, what have you done? Got chopped off in your own country, didn’t it?”

Addressing another man with a suitcase, he says: “What you got? Guns and bombs in that, yeah?”

He is also heard to ask: “Why you over here lad?”

The court heard that Lefevre, of Albert Road, Widnes, had a character reference from his mother, in which she said he was not a racist.

The offence was committed outside Trinity Methodist Church in WidnesThe offence was committed outside Trinity Methodist Church in Widnes (Image: Google Maps)

Recorder David Knifton said: “It’s patent nonsense. Not only did he video exactly what he did, but he then uploaded it to Facebook, where it attracted further comments of a racist nature.”

He added: “This was a disgraceful incident, not only racially abusive, but also abusive to a person about his physical disability.

“In my view, this is a case which will call for immediate custody. I want the defendant to be under no illusions about the likely outcome in this case.”

He said the incident took place in the wake of ‘tragic events’ in Southport, where three girls were killed in a knife attack.

He added: “We know exactly what sort of behaviour that has led to.”

As the hearing came to an end, Lefevre could be heard saying over the video-link: “You just want to hope that lad doesn’t do anything.”

Carmel Wilde, defending, said: “I think muting the defendant may assist.”

The case was adjourned to Tuesday for the preparation of a victim statement and a pre-sentence report.

Appearing back in court, he was sentenced to six months of immediate imprisonment.

The sentence was welcomed by chief inspector Daniel Haddock, who said: “When the disorder started in August in other areas of the UK, we were clear that we would not tolerate that kind of behaviour in Cheshire.

“Lefevre’s actions were powered by the national disorder, and he chose to target innocent people going about their daily lives outside a place of worship.

“The sentence imposed upon him should serve as a strong reminder of how serious these crimes are regarded.

“Robust action will be taken against anyone who chooses to behave in this manner.”