Man Who Stormed Jewish Wedding Sentenced for Hate Crime

A man who entered a Jewish wedding reception and shouted abuse at guests has been sentenced to an 18-month community order. Joseph Nixon, 43, was found guilty of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment for the incident, which occurred in the early hours of September 15, 2025, at Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel.

During the event, Nixon confronted Jack Surpree, the best man, and allegedly asked him about his stance on Israel and Palestine before shouting, "You Jewish bastards." Nixon and another man then entered the function room, where witnesses heard shouts of "Jews are murderers" and "you guys are killing babies." The incident lasted approximately seven to eight minutes before Nixon was arrested.

In a victim impact statement, Surpree described feeling shocked and fearful, stating, "I had never been the victim of hate before that day." He added, "In that moment all I could see was hatred and evil." Surpree recounted that the incident cast a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion for his family, noting that his parents had saved for years for the wedding and his sister-in-law had waited her whole life for the day. He expressed that he now feels nervous attending large Jewish gatherings and urged Nixon to educate himself.

Nixon's defense attorney stated that Nixon was under significant stress at the time due to caring for his elderly parents, who later died, and a breakdown in his marriage. The defense also noted that Nixon had experienced discrimination for being Irish Catholic. Nixon, a chef, had reportedly come to Liverpool for a break and had been drinking at the time of the offense. He expressed shame for his actions and stated he has full empathy for the distress caused.

In addition to the community order, which includes 300 hours of unpaid work, Nixon was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge, £650 in court costs, and £150 in compensation to Mr. Surpree.