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Man guilty of harassing Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger | Man guilty of harassing Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man has been found guilty of the racially-aggravated harassment of an MP after sending anti-Semitic rants. | A man has been found guilty of the racially-aggravated harassment of an MP after sending anti-Semitic rants. |
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, 24, wrote five hate-filled blogs harassing Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger in 2014, a jury at the Old Bailey was told. | Joshua Bonehill-Paine, 24, wrote five hate-filled blogs harassing Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger in 2014, a jury at the Old Bailey was told. |
Ms Berger told the court she "felt sick" and "very much under attack". | Ms Berger told the court she "felt sick" and "very much under attack". |
Bonehill-Paine, of Yeovil, Somerset, posted the articles after the jailing of fellow far-right extremist Garron Helm in October the same year. | Bonehill-Paine, of Yeovil, Somerset, posted the articles after the jailing of fellow far-right extremist Garron Helm in October the same year. |
Helm, then 21, from Merseyside, had admitted sending a picture on Twitter depicting Ms Berger, 35, with a holocaust-era Star of David on her forehead and the hashtag "Hitler was right". | Helm, then 21, from Merseyside, had admitted sending a picture on Twitter depicting Ms Berger, 35, with a holocaust-era Star of David on her forehead and the hashtag "Hitler was right". |
Over the next four months, Bonehill-Paine posted articles online calling her "an evil money-grabber" and claiming the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a "problem". | Over the next four months, Bonehill-Paine posted articles online calling her "an evil money-grabber" and claiming the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a "problem". |
Speaking after the verdict, Ms Berger insisted racist abuse and harassment over the internet is a "horrific crime". | |
'Feared for safety' | |
She said: "The protracted campaign of vitriol and hate had a deep impact on me and on the people around me - my family and my fantastic team. | |
"If any good can come from this awful experience, I hope that it will send a strong signal to anyone experiencing harassment - you do not have to suffer in silence. | |
"I'd encourage everyone to report these crimes. Together, we can show, that they are not, nor will they ever be tolerated." | |
Giving evidence, Ms Berger said she feared for her safety because "what happens online does not always stay online". | Giving evidence, Ms Berger said she feared for her safety because "what happens online does not always stay online". |
The MP said: "It's fair to say I was the most concerned I have ever been about my personal safety since I was elected." | The MP said: "It's fair to say I was the most concerned I have ever been about my personal safety since I was elected." |
Bonehill-Paine's conviction comes after neo-Nazi Thomas Mair, 53, was handed a whole life term at the same court for the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. | Bonehill-Paine's conviction comes after neo-Nazi Thomas Mair, 53, was handed a whole life term at the same court for the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. |
In July, another internet troll, John Nimmo, 28, from South Shields, was convicted of making a death threat against Ms Berger by saying she would "get it like Jo Cox". | In July, another internet troll, John Nimmo, 28, from South Shields, was convicted of making a death threat against Ms Berger by saying she would "get it like Jo Cox". |
During his trial, Bonehill-Paine was awaiting sentence for making claims on Twitter that several people were paedophiles. | During his trial, Bonehill-Paine was awaiting sentence for making claims on Twitter that several people were paedophiles. |
He is currently serving three years and four months in jail over a conviction in December last year for posting anti-Semitic material ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally in Golders Green - home to many London-based Jews. | He is currently serving three years and four months in jail over a conviction in December last year for posting anti-Semitic material ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally in Golders Green - home to many London-based Jews. |
Mr Justice Spencer said he would adjourn sentencing to consider an application for a criminal behaviour order. | Mr Justice Spencer said he would adjourn sentencing to consider an application for a criminal behaviour order. |
The maximum sentence for the racially aggravated offence is seven years. | The maximum sentence for the racially aggravated offence is seven years. |