Internet troll jailed over threats and racist messages to MPs

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/18/internet-troll-jailed-over-threats-and-racist-messages-to-mps

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A Brexit-supporting troll who sent MPs death threats and racist messages has been sentenced to nearly 10 months in jail.

Jarod Kirkman, 51, sent malicious messages to seven politicians, including former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan and Labour’s David Lammy, Westminster magistrates’ court heard.

Some messages, sent through the MPs’ websites, had the subject lines “Brexit traitor” and “Brexit loser” with menacing email addresses such as MPdeadpoliticianwalking.com and Putinfsb.ru.

Unemployed Kirkman sent a message to Heidi Allen, of the Independent Group, saying: “Your days are fucking numbered bitch. Will it be polonium or novichok? Either way you will never know, expect it soon.”

The court also heard he told Lammy: “Go back to the jungle nigger where you belong”, while another said “fuck off and die in the jungle”.

Kirkman also sent threatening emails to Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Jenny Chapman, former Tory Nick Boles and Sarah Wollaston of the Independent Group.

The messages, which were said to have also caused distress and anxiety to the MPs’ staff who opened them, were all sent between 4 December 2018 and 21 January this year.

Kirkman was arrested in Luton on 29 January after officers traced the messages to his home IP address.

He pleaded guilty to seven charges earlier this month.

Passing sentence, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: “You’re described essentially as a typical troll – sending odious messages but presenting as a pitiful figure.

“You deliberately targeted MPs, from the safety of your home you threatened them. Instead of expressing your views appropriately ... you chose to threaten to kill them.

“The message needs to go out that people who threaten MPs are threatening our democratic process.”

Kirkman, who sent emails from a personal email account, appeared to make no reaction as he was sentenced.

Prosecutor Andrea Scott-Lynch told the court: “It would appear the defendant was motivated to send these messages by the stance that each of these MPs took towards Brexit.”

Kirkman told Morgan, “Your days are fucking numbered bitch, death will be swift,” the court heard.

After the sentencing, Morgan said: “There is a line between robust challenge to MPs and our views and actions and threatening to kill us for the job we are doing.

“Mr Kirkman crossed that line and I would like to thank the police for their prompt action to track him down and to the chief magistrate for her words about such threats being a threat to our democracy.”

In mitigation, Gregory Wedge said Kirkman acted as a carer for his mother, adding: “In this case, it’s very clear this is a stupid man who made a series of stupid decisions.”

Kirkman received five weeks, to be served consecutively, for each of the six counts of sending threatening messages, as well as a 12-week sentence for the racist messages to Lammy, adding up to 42 weeks in custody.

Kirkman, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140 and was given a five-year restraining order not to contact any of the seven MPs.