This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-66099598
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sheffield woman Katie Bell who trolled grieving widow jailed | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Katie Bell was described by a judge as a "coward" | Katie Bell was described by a judge as a "coward" |
| An online troll who carried out a campaign of abuse against a grieving widow after breaching an order to stop has been jailed for 15 months. | An online troll who carried out a campaign of abuse against a grieving widow after breaching an order to stop has been jailed for 15 months. |
| Katie Bell, 27, was given a suspended jail sentence in 2021 for the abusive comments and threats directed at people on social media. | Katie Bell, 27, was given a suspended jail sentence in 2021 for the abusive comments and threats directed at people on social media. |
| But despite the order, she resumed her behaviour months later. | But despite the order, she resumed her behaviour months later. |
| Jailing her, Recorder Andrew Smith MBE described her as "cowardly", the Sheffield Star reported. | Jailing her, Recorder Andrew Smith MBE described her as "cowardly", the Sheffield Star reported. |
| Bell, of Stradbroke Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to two breaches of a restraining order, breaching a suspended sentence order and a further charge of malicious communications on Twitter and Instagram. | Bell, of Stradbroke Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to two breaches of a restraining order, breaching a suspended sentence order and a further charge of malicious communications on Twitter and Instagram. |
| Police appeal targeted | Police appeal targeted |
| In a statement read out at Sheffield Crown Court, one of her victims detailed the distress Bell had subjected her to, including comments about her late husband. | In a statement read out at Sheffield Crown Court, one of her victims detailed the distress Bell had subjected her to, including comments about her late husband. |
| Bell posted a number of comments on news articles paying tribute to the woman's husband following his sudden death, including one which said: "Serves him right". | Bell posted a number of comments on news articles paying tribute to the woman's husband following his sudden death, including one which said: "Serves him right". |
| The court was told this took place despite the suspended sentence and a restraining order. | The court was told this took place despite the suspended sentence and a restraining order. |
| The malicious communication offence related to a number of inflammatory comments she made on the social media pages of various news outlets and police forces, the court was told. | The malicious communication offence related to a number of inflammatory comments she made on the social media pages of various news outlets and police forces, the court was told. |
| One such comment was made in response to an appeal to find a missing 15-year-old girl published by Merseyside Police in November 2022, under which Bell posted: "Serves her right if she is dead." | One such comment was made in response to an appeal to find a missing 15-year-old girl published by Merseyside Police in November 2022, under which Bell posted: "Serves her right if she is dead." |
| Recorder Smith said he did not think there was a risk of her going around "confronting anybody". | Recorder Smith said he did not think there was a risk of her going around "confronting anybody". |
| He added: "I don't think that's the sort of person you are. You are too cowardly for that, you just sit behind a computer and wind people up." | He added: "I don't think that's the sort of person you are. You are too cowardly for that, you just sit behind a computer and wind people up." |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sheffield | Sheffield |
Previous version
1
Next version