The head of the far-right National Rebirth Party has defended the appointment of a branch leader who was convicted of a hate crime last year sending malicious communications to a drag performer. Christopher Mitchell was sentenced to a 12-month community order in April last year after sending malicious communications to drag queen Auntie Titania Trust, who had delivered a drag queen story-telling event at North Walsham Library in Norfolk. Mitchell also revealed the real name of the drag queen, Joseph Ballard, in social media posts, in which he baselessly accused him of “grooming children”. The threats left Ballard fearing for his life, Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court was told.