The prosecution argued that the stickers were intended to stir up racial hatred. Melia claimed that they were intended to "start a conversation" and that he was unaware that the stickering would count as criminal damage. The stickers reportedly contained slogans such as "We will be a minority in our homeland by 2066", "Mass immigration is white genocide", "Intolerance is a virtue", "They seek conquest not asylum." "Diversity – designed to fail, built to replace", "Reject white guilt",  "It's OK to be White", "Stop anti-white rape gangs", and "Love Your nation".

Melia's wife said that the judge gave Melia a harsh sentence to deter people with the same beliefs from spreading the message.

.Sam Melia's wife's statement after he was convicted: