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Paul Hind jailed after trolling grieving families online | Paul Hind jailed after trolling grieving families online |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A "callous" internet troll who posted offensive material about a woman who was crushed to death outside a nightclub has been jailed. | |
Paul Hind, 38, called Durham University student Olivia Burt, 20, a "sex worker" and "prostitute" on Facebook. | Paul Hind, 38, called Durham University student Olivia Burt, 20, a "sex worker" and "prostitute" on Facebook. |
Miss Burt, from Hampshire, died after a barrier fell outside Durham's Missoula nightclub on 7 February. | Miss Burt, from Hampshire, died after a barrier fell outside Durham's Missoula nightclub on 7 February. |
Her father Nigel has called Hind a "sick sadist" whose actions had been a "desecration" of Miss Burt's memory. | Her father Nigel has called Hind a "sick sadist" whose actions had been a "desecration" of Miss Burt's memory. |
At Newcastle Crown Court earlier, Hind was jailed for 14 months, after he admitted four charges of conveying false information which was indecent or grossly offensive. | |
As well as targeting Miss Burt, Hind also posted about the deaths of Leicester's Joe Tilley, 24, who was found dead at the bottom of a waterfall in Colombia in May, and 19-year-old Duncan Sim, from Duns, in the Scottish Borders, whose remains were found at West Sands in St Andrews earlier this year. | As well as targeting Miss Burt, Hind also posted about the deaths of Leicester's Joe Tilley, 24, who was found dead at the bottom of a waterfall in Colombia in May, and 19-year-old Duncan Sim, from Duns, in the Scottish Borders, whose remains were found at West Sands in St Andrews earlier this year. |
He also made remarks about Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, who was killed on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. | He also made remarks about Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, who was killed on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. |
Ms Witheridge's sister, Laura described the trolling as "callous and cowardly". | |
She said: "Losing someone you love, suddenly, in tragic circumstances is the most painful thing imaginable. | |
"I don't believe that, unless you have been in such a position, you can truly comprehend how torturous and unbearable it is. | |
"I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that today offers some justice for my family, and all of the other families involved in this case, and I hope it sends a strong message that sitting in a dark room, hiding behind a computer screen does not make you untraceable." | |
Acting Det Insp Lindsay Banks-Brown, of Durham Police, said the four families had suffered "unimaginable tragedy" and Hind had "only compounded their suffering". | |
Sharon Elves, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "While others were offering words of comfort and condolence, Paul Hind instead posted cruel messages and images, which were seen by parents still grieving for their children. | Sharon Elves, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "While others were offering words of comfort and condolence, Paul Hind instead posted cruel messages and images, which were seen by parents still grieving for their children. |
"While it is difficult for anybody to understand Hind's motivation, the undue distress caused by his actions has been made painfully clear." | "While it is difficult for anybody to understand Hind's motivation, the undue distress caused by his actions has been made painfully clear." |
Mr Burt said previously that the postings about his daughter had made him and his wife Paula feel "physically sick". | |
After an earlier court hearing, Hind said he was "deeply sorry" for his actions and he was suffering from mental health issues and had acted "for attention". | After an earlier court hearing, Hind said he was "deeply sorry" for his actions and he was suffering from mental health issues and had acted "for attention". |
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