Jake Henderson, 28, posted a video employing a racially abusive word to explain Patel after a Covid-19 pandemic in January this year and co-accused Robert Cumming, 26, was among those that widely shared it online.
Both men admitted sending a grossly offensive message by a public communication network and can next appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands region of England, on August 12 for sentencing. The duo remains on bail until the sentencing hearing.
The 50-second video was played in court, where Henderson are often heard saying: "As a man , I won't be taking note of people of colour."
Cumming then shared it along side the caption: "Haters gonna be hating" and 4 laughing emojis.
Prosecutor Daniel Church, appearing on behalf of the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the video was "motivated by hostility towards members of racial groups".
The court heard how members of the general public were distressed by the comments linked with the video and feared its contents could incite racial hatred.
The duo was summonsed to court on May 29 and charged with sending a grossly offensive message by a public communication network, which comes with a custodial sentence or fine or both.
"Following complaints in reference to a video targeted reception Secretary Priti Patel and posted on social media in January 2021, the CPS has authorised Nottinghamshire Police to charge Jake Henderson and Robert Cumming with sending a grossly offensive message by a public communication network,” Janine Smith, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said earlier this month.
"The function of the CPS isn't to make a decision whether an individual is guilty of a criminal offence, but to form fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it's appropriate to present charges to a court to think about ,” Smith said.
The pair faced charges under Section 127 of the UK’s Communications Act.
