Comic Hunter appears in court over alleged antisemitic posts

The US stand-up comic, 56, is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three different occasions to Heidi Bachram on X, formerly Twitter, on 24 August, and 10 and 11 September last year.

Mr Hunter spoke to confirm his personal details when he appeared at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday for the private prosecution, which is being brought by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) charity.

He was bailed to return for a hearing at the same court on 14 November, where he will learn if the case will go ahead and whether he will have to enter a plea.

It is alleged the comedian sent a computer-generated sexual image to Ms Bachram in August last year, with the charges claiming it was "grossly offensive".

Deputy district judge Louise Balmain told him: "There is going to be an initial legal argument as to whether the case should proceed and that will take place on November 14."

Mr Hunter, whose address was given as care of Kalber Struckley solicitors, was released on unconditional bail.

The comedian regularly performs shows across the UK and has also appeared on many well-known panel shows including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

He has posted on social media that he is "fighting a private prosecution for my comedy" in a crowdfunding appeal launched to help cover legal fees.

A total of £19,836 towards a £50,000 target had been pledged by the time he made his first appearance in court on Monday.

The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to "expose and counter antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law".

Stephen Silverman, the group's director of investigations and enforcement, previously said: "This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course."

Private prosecutions are cases brought to criminal courts without the involvement of the police or CPS.