Neo-Nazi pair Thomas Sewell and Jacob Hersant attack ‘gay-Jewish-communist lies’ outside court as they escape jail time over violent park clash during ‘camping’ weekend

Two leaders of Australia’s neo-Nazi movement have remained defiant, blaming “gay Jewish communist” lies as they walked out of court after a violent encounter.

Thomas Sewell, 30, and Jacob Hersant, 24, were spared jail in the County Court on Friday after both pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder.

The two men, both dressed in navy suits, sat relaxed in the dock and chatted casually before the hearing began as nine supporters entered the courtroom.

The court was told that on May 8, 2021, Sewell, then leader of the European Australian Movement, and Hersant, who headed the National Socialist Network, met with members of the organizations at Cathedral Range State Park, northeast from Melbourne, for a ‘camping weekend’.

About 10 to 15 members of the group confronted a separate group of six friends staying nearby and chose to climb Mount Sugarloaf.

The court was told the incident began when one of the hikers filmed the men, many of whom were wearing T-shirts with the Celtic cross – a well-known symbol of white supremacy – after displaying an ‘Australia for the white man’ sticker had seen at a nearby mountain hut. tree.

The group, including Sewell and Hersant, began kicking and punching a vehicle as the walkers tried to leave, breaking windows and taking their cellphones.

One of the victims later said a Stanley knife was thrust through the windows when he was told to ‘give us your phones and get out of the car’.

Sewell (left) was sentenced to imprisonment for one month and seven days, which was recognized as a prison sentence

They called triple-0 as they fled the area, telling police they were “terrified by the violence” and feared being attacked or killed.

Sentencing Sewell and Hersant, Judge Kellie Blair said that while the crime was “inherently serious,” she agreed with their lawyers that it was spontaneous, unrelated to their political views and that the two men did not incite the “pack mentality of violence’.

“The victims posed no danger or threat to your group,” she said.

‘You were both actively involved in the violent crime, because you both committed actions.’

Sewell, who had spent more than six months in custody after his arrest, was sentenced to one month and seven days in prison, credited as time served.

Hersant, who had been in custody for three days, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service over the following fourteen months.

“Good luck, gentlemen,” Judge Blair said as she left the court.

Sewell (centre) was an active face in Melbourne’s neo-Nazi community and was involved in a major protest that led the state government to ban the Nazi salute

Both Sewell and Hersant smiled and received congratulations from their supporters after Judge Blair left the courtroom.

Outside court, both men remained defiant, with both “heil Hitler” and Sewell shouting that the victims had made up parts of the story and attacked them first.

“We were attacked twice and on both occasions we defended ourselves,” Sewell said, referring to his 2021 attack on a Channel 9 security guard.

“If it happens a third time, unfortunately we’ll have to do it again.”

Both Sewell and Hersant blamed the victims for the attack, claiming they believed they were responding to the hikers’ alleged violence within the law.

He claimed that he and two 18-year-old members were run over during the exchange, blaming it on “gay Jewish communists.”

“They are anti-fascists, so they have a political motivation to make false accusations,” Sewell said.

“People feel they can attack us, we have views against the mainstream and therefore they can do whatever they want with us,” Hersant added.

“Those people learned differently that day… it’s a complete lie and it’s in the interest of the state to simply allow these lies to be believed.”