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Paul Bussetti arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London in July 2019
Paul Bussetti arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London in July 2019. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
Paul Bussetti arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London in July 2019. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Man gets suspended jail sentence for ‘offensive’ video of Grenfell Tower model

This article is more than 2 years old

Paul Bussetti from Croydon pleads guilty in retrial after not guilty verdict quashed by high court

A man has been sentenced to 10 weeks, suspended for two years, after admitting sending a “grossly offensive” viral video of a cardboard model of Grenfell Tower being burned on a bonfire.

Paul Bussetti, 49, from Croydon, south London, pleaded guilty to one count when he appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday.

Bussetti was previously found not guilty after a two-day trial but the acquittal was quashed by the high court.

Bussetti filmed the footage, which was taken at an annual bonfire party hosted by a friend in November 2018, and was shared in WhatsApp groups.

It prompted outrage when it was shared widely online and was criticised as “vile” by a relative of one of the 72 victims of the 2017 disaster in west London.

The court heard there were direct and indirect references to the residents of Grenfell Tower in the footage. They included comments of: “Who’s jumping?”; “Don’t worry, stay in your flats”; and “Jump out of the window”.

The court heard Bussetti said: “That’s what happens when you don’t pay the rent.” The defendant also uttered siren noises, while another person – not Bussetti – made a racist comment and people present could be heard laughing.

The court heard Bussetti handed himself in to police when the footage went viral. Bussetti sent the video to two WhatsApp groups – one football-related, and one for a holiday group.

He is said to have told police: “It was all over the telly and so we thought it was better to tell the truth. It was terrible, definitely offensive to people, it was just complete stupidness, one of those stupid moments.”

A victim impact statement on behalf of the Grenfell victims said: “The overall reaction of the Grenfell community was one of shock, horror and outrage.”

More on this story

More on this story

  • ‘Really upsetting’: Grenfell Tower edited out of TV advert

  • Grenfell Tower firefighters win £20m damages in out of court settlement

  • Grenfell survivor in whose flat fire started describes anguish to victims’ event

  • Grenfell families say fight for justice has parallels with Post Office IT scandal

  • Grenfell Tower cladding company declines invitation to victims’ event

  • Grenfell commission proposes permanent memorial to replace tower

  • Cost of Grenfell Tower disaster soars to nearly £1.2bn

  • Causes of Grenfell fire were entwined with policy decisions driven by saving money

  • Writer of Grenfell play says people must be jailed for what happened

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