A man who unleashed tirades of religiously aggravated abuse at members of the Jewish community has been jailed.

Tavius Jean Charles, 36, subjected six victims to repeated threats over several months between October 2025 and March 2026, with each incident taking place in close proximity to a synagogue. 

On multiple occasions, he directed threats at individuals he believed to be Jewish, including shouting death threats as well as making comments about harming Jewish people more widely. In one incident, he was also heard suggesting that a Jewish school should be blown up.

Facing overwhelming evidence against him, Charles pleaded guilty to a series of religiously aggravated offences and was today sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to five years' imprisonment.

Ragvesh Singh, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS London North, said:
“Tavius Jeans Charles repeatedly targeted a number of victims in close proximity to a synagogue by shouting antisemitic abuse, making death threats and approaching them in their cars.

“We know the profound impact these offences have on victims and the wider Jewish community and this is why we are working closely with the police to take swift action to ensure that the offenders of these serious hate crimes face justice”.

Varinder Hayre, District Crown Prosecutor and Hate Crime Lead in London North area added:
“This was a complex case and we worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build the strongest case right from the outset, including requesting additional evidence.

“After presenting this overwhelming evidence to Jean Charles in court, he felt he had no choice but to change his pleas to guilty less than 30 days after he had first claimed he was innocent.

“In a time where we are prosecuting more hate crime cases than ever before, I hope this outcome reassures the public, particularly the Jewish community, that antisemitic hate crime is treated with the utmost seriousness, with offenders identified, prosecuted, and brought before the courts swiftly.

“There is no place for hate crime in our society, and we remain committed to taking robust action to protect communities and uphold justice.”

Building a case to secure early guilty pleas

At his first hearing on 26 March 2026 after he was charged in connection to the incidents, Tavius Jean Charles initially pleaded not guilty to the offences, and the matter was listed for a two-day trial in May at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.

The CPS then worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build the strongest case against him by requesting additional strands of evidence and holding several case conferences.

At a hearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court on 20 April, following this additional evidence being shared with the defence, he admitted his crimes, less than 30 days after he had first entered not guilty pleas. 

ENDS