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| Lee Rigby internet troll spared jail | Lee Rigby internet troll spared jail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An internet troll who claimed the murder of Lee Rigby was a conspiracy has been spared jail. | An internet troll who claimed the murder of Lee Rigby was a conspiracy has been spared jail. |
| Christopher Spivey, of Rochford, Essex, posted a series of comments on social media saying that Fusilier Rigby's killing was made up to provoke anti-Islamic feelings. | Christopher Spivey, of Rochford, Essex, posted a series of comments on social media saying that Fusilier Rigby's killing was made up to provoke anti-Islamic feelings. |
| At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, the 52-year-old denied harassment and sending grossly offensive messages. | At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, the 52-year-old denied harassment and sending grossly offensive messages. |
| He was given a six month prison term suspended for two years. | He was given a six month prison term suspended for two years. |
| Fusilier Rigby, from Greater Manchester, was murdered as he returned to his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, on 22 May 2013. | Fusilier Rigby, from Greater Manchester, was murdered as he returned to his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, on 22 May 2013. |
| 'Disturbing and sick' | |
| Prosecutor Simon Bravey said Fusilier Rigby's mother, Lyn Rigby, was the first to be alerted to Spivey's Facebook posts. | |
| In a statement read to the court, Mrs Rigby said she found his claims "extremely disturbing and sick". | |
| Spivey also posted the family's home addresses and private photographs and made direct contact with the family. | |
| He contacted Fusilier Rigby's sister, Sarah McClure and claimed her husband, Rob, also a soldier, and Fusilier Rigby were the same person. | |
| Mrs McClure said this left her fearing that her family could be targeted by extremists. | |
| Spivey made the bizarre claims on a website alongside expressing doubts as to whether the Tunisia beach massacre and the Glasgow bin lorry deaths happened. | |
| Judge Woollard said: "Families are understandably distressed to have lost loved ones and then find themselves subject to these claims." | |
| Solicitor Miss Williamson, who declined to give her full name to journalists, mitigating, said that Spivey did not accept his guilt and plans to appeal against his conviction. | |
| She added: "It may have been unpleasant but it's not at the most serious end of harassment." |