‘He’s not a Nazi’: British man held in immigration detention faces court over alleged antisemitic posts
A British man accused of posting anti-Semitic material online has appeared in court after questions were raised about his bail status and request for voluntary deportation from Australia.
Kayn Adam Charles Wells, 43, appeared in person at Caboolture Magistrates’ Court in Queensland, wearing an orange T-shirt and sunglasses.
His wife became visibly emotional throughout the hearing as her husband and teenage son sat in court.
Mr Wells is charged with three counts of displaying banned Nazi symbols and one count of using a transport service with criminal intent.
He was arrested at his home in Caboolture in December after police alleged he uploaded a series of offensive posts to social media platform X between October 10 and November 5.
Police allege that the posts contained images of Nazi swastikas and content calling for violence against the Jewish community.
One post allegedly said: “There is no Aboriginal culture. It is not a culture. Being born here means Australian. Not skin colour.”
Mr Wells is also accused of continuing to post offensive material after a social media account was blocked and allegedly creating another account with a similar name.
Police also claim that his property was searched and swords, including swastikas, axes and knives, were found.
The court was told on Wednesday that Mr Wells is currently on bail but remains in immigration detention after his Australian visa was canceled under character provisions.
Prosecutor Annabelle Bridgland said Mr Wells had signed paperwork requesting his voluntary deportation from Australia, raising concerns he may have breached his bail conditions.
The court was told police became aware of the application for voluntary deportation shortly before the hearing and were considering whether the act of signing the form amounted to a breach of bail.
Ms Bridgland said there was “some tension” between criminal proceedings, immigration detention and Home Office processes.
“Unfortunately it’s a process but we just need to move forward,” Ms Bridgland said.
Legal Aid lawyer Bree-Anna Bowtell told the court that Mr Wells had applied for legal aid but did not yet have a lawyer.
Ms Bowtell said the matter should be adjourned for the application to be considered.
The judge was told Mr Wells’ bail conditions already prohibited him from attempting to leave Australia or applying for travel documents without permission, but the prosecution is considering a formal change in light of his request for voluntary deportation.
The court said some aspects of the case should be postponed on Wednesday so that further instructions and clarifications can be made on bail conditions and immigration processes.
Ahead of the hearing, Mr Wells’s wife, Kellie, made an emotional speech to counter the allegations and deny her husband was a neo-Nazi.
“He’s not a Nazi,” Kellie said.
“He needed psychological help”
She said Mr. Wells finally began receiving mental health support while in immigration detention and described him as “not a bad person.”
She told NewsWire that the couple met while she was living in the United Kingdom, where Mr. Wells lived before moving to Australia, and that they share a teenage son.
“He came here for love,” he said.
