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Foreign Office man guilty of racist rant

September 24, 2009 11:26
Rowan Laxton

ByLeon Symons, Leon Symons

1 min read

Foreign Office civil servant Rowan Laxton has been found guilty of uttering a foul-mouthed anti-Israel rant at a gymnasium during Operation Cast lead in January.

District judge Howard Riddle fined Laxton, 48, £350 with £500 costs at Westminster Magistrates Court.

His counsel, Julian Knowles, said afterwards: “Mr Laxton is very disappointed by the outcome and he will be considering his next steps with his legal team.”

The court had heard previously how Laxton had arrived at the London Business School gymnasium at about 8am on January 27. In evidence, another gym user, Gideon Falter, said he heard someone shouting “f------ Israelis, f------ Jews” from above him. Laxton then came down and the pair spoke.