Joseph Nixon given community order for antisemitic abuse at Liverpool wedding
Joseph Nixon, 43, has received an 18-month community order after being found guilty of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment at a Jewish wedding in Liverpool. The case matters because guests described being targeted with antisemitic abuse during a celebration, and the best man said the incident left him nervous about attending large Jewish gatherings.
The court heard Nixon confronted best man Jack Surpree at the Adelphi Hotel in the early hours of 15 September 2025, then entered the function room and shouted that Jews were murderers and killing babies. The incident lasted around seven to eight minutes, and Surpree said he feared Nixon might become violent towards him and his teenage sister. Nixon’s defence cited stress, alcohol and discrimination he had experienced as an Irish Catholic; he was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £650 in costs, a £114 surcharge and £150 compensation.
In short
- Joseph Nixon was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment.
- Antisemitic abuse disrupted a wedding reception in Liverpool.
- He must complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation.
Explained simply
A Jewish wedding is a marriage celebration attended by the couple’s family and friends, often including a reception with speeches and dancing. Antisemitism means hostility or prejudice towards Jewish people, and UK law treats some offences as more serious when they are aggravated by racial or religious hostility.
In this case, the people at the centre were Joseph Nixon, who was accused of abusing guests, and Jack Surpree, the wedding’s best man. The incident took place at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool in September 2025, while guests were celebrating.
The case concerns how people at a private celebration were affected by targeted abuse, including one guest’s fear that it could turn violent. It also illustrates how courts can deal with harassment involving hostility towards a religious group.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Man who stormed Jewish wedding in ‘hate spree’ and shouted abuse at guests blames outburst on past discrimination for being Irish Catholic”.