Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell admits to being ‘racist’ after avoiding jail despite guilty verdict for brutal attack on Nine security guard

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Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell avoided jail time after being convicted of a brutal assault on a Nine security guard.

“I don’t expect a fair hearing,” Sewell said ahead of his sentencing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today, telling reporters outside he expected to be sent to jail.

Instead, the 29-year-old was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order with 150 hours of community service for repeatedly punching guard Nine, causing him to bang his head on the pavement.

Thomas Sewell. (A current affair)

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The attack came after Sewell and his associate, Jacob Hersant, were asked to leave the offices of Nine’s Docklands on March 1, 2021, where they had shown up to demand to speak with staff at A Current Affair.

Sewell pleaded in court for a non-conviction of the offenses due to his good behavior, his previous service in the Australian Defense Force and the fact that his fiancée is 36 weeks pregnant with their first child.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek told Sewell that imprisonment would have been appropriate for the “sickening” beatings inflicted on the victim.

The neo-Nazi was found guilty of brutally assaulting a Nine security guard. (A Current Affair) Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell. (A current affair)

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“He didn’t see them coming, he didn’t have time to defend himself,” Ballek said.

The magistrate instead sentenced Sewell to a community correction order on “the basis of the mitigating matters, in particular the lack of prior convictions and prior good conduct”.

As Sewell left court, he said he felt the sentence was not a “fair outcome”, but was unlikely to challenge it.

Thomas Sewell in court. (A Current Affair) Thomas Sewell and A Current Affair reporter Steve Marshall in court. (A current affair)

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“I stand by my testimony, all the time I acted in the self-defense of others,” Sewell said.

Sewell went on to tell A Current Affair, “I’m a racist, absolutely I’m a racist.”

“To me, being racist is putting your race first,” Sewell told A Current Affair reporter Steve Marshall.

The chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr. Dvir Abramovich. (A current affair)

Anti-hate activists shared their disappointment at hearing of Sewell’s sentencing.

“I think there will be a lot of people who will be shocked, discouraged, saddened, very disappointed,” Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dr. Dvir Abramovich told A Current Affair.

“I think it sends the message that they can continue with their neo-Nazi behavior.

“It’s a sad day for our justice system. It’s a sad day for our democracy and it’s also very important for all of us to stand together against this ever-evolving threat to our way of life.”

Sewell will return to Victoria County Court to stand trial on an unrelated case later this year.

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