Viscount’s son in court on hate crime charge ‘after calling Anti-Semitism activist “Jewish scum”

Viscount Portman’s son has appeared in court on a hate crime charge ‘after calling an anti- been accused of a hate crime ‘for branding an Anti-Semitism activist “Jewish scum” when they met at the court case of a blogger who sang a Holocaust-denying YouTube song’.

Piers Portman, 49, the son of Edward, 9th Viscount Portman of Bryanston, allegedly abused Campaign Against Antisemitism CEO Gideon Falter after he would not shake his hand at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June 2018.

Mr Falter is alleged to have offered his hand at the sentencing of Alison Chabloz for offences relating to anti-Semitism.

Earlier Misba Majid, prosecuting, described the alleged offence as ‘a religious hate crime.’

Mr Majid said: ‘They were both here to witness a case.

‘On 14 June 2018 the complainant, Mr Falter, was present as part of Campaign Against Antisemitism at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and Mr Portman was also present as a witness.

‘After it was over he approached Mr Falter in the lobby and extended a hand in gesture to shake it.

‘Mr Falter did not know who he was and refused to shake his hand. At that point Mr Portman said “come prosecute me you Jewish scum”.

‘He said it leaning in to his face and gesturing aggressively. Mr Falter described how he was shaken by the incident and it was witnessed by a number of people at the time.

‘Mr Portman had previously contacted him by email in relation to the party Mr Falter is chair of.’

Property heir Portman, of The Portman Estate in central London, denies one count of religiously aggravated intentional harassment.

He was bailed ahead of his trial at Southwark Crown Court on 19 April 2021.