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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pair jailed over abusive tweets to feminist campaigner | Pair jailed over abusive tweets to feminist campaigner |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two people have been jailed for sending abusive messages on Twitter to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez. | Two people have been jailed for sending abusive messages on Twitter to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez. |
| Isabella Sorley, 23, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and John Nimmo, 25, of South Shields, was jailed for eight weeks. | Isabella Sorley, 23, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and John Nimmo, 25, of South Shields, was jailed for eight weeks. |
| They had pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court to improper use of a communications network. | They had pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court to improper use of a communications network. |
| After sentencing, Ms Criado-Perez said she was relieved the judge understood the impact the abuse had had on her. | After sentencing, Ms Criado-Perez said she was relieved the judge understood the impact the abuse had had on her. |
| Their messages were sent last July after Ms Criado-Perez led a campaign using social media for a female figure to appear on a Bank of England note. | Their messages were sent last July after Ms Criado-Perez led a campaign using social media for a female figure to appear on a Bank of England note. |
| Sorley also targeted Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, who was among the high-profile public figures who backed the bid. | Sorley also targeted Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, who was among the high-profile public figures who backed the bid. |
| 'Heightened fear' | 'Heightened fear' |
| The court heard that one tweet from Sorley started with an expletive and continued: "Die you worthless piece of crap." Ms Criado-Perez was also told to "go kill yourself". | The court heard that one tweet from Sorley started with an expletive and continued: "Die you worthless piece of crap." Ms Criado-Perez was also told to "go kill yourself". |
| Sorley also sent the message: "I've only just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried!!" | Sorley also sent the message: "I've only just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried!!" |
| In a separate set of abusive messages, Nimmo told Ms Criado-Perez to "shut up" and made references to rape followed by "I will find you (smiley face)". | In a separate set of abusive messages, Nimmo told Ms Criado-Perez to "shut up" and made references to rape followed by "I will find you (smiley face)". |
| District Judge Howard Riddle said the effects on both women were "substantial" and it was "hard to imagine more extreme threats". | District Judge Howard Riddle said the effects on both women were "substantial" and it was "hard to imagine more extreme threats". |
| Ms Criado-Perez felt "terrified" every time the doorbell rang, he said, while Ms Creasy had a panic button installed at her home. | Ms Criado-Perez felt "terrified" every time the doorbell rang, he said, while Ms Creasy had a panic button installed at her home. |
| The judge said of the abusive tweets: "The fact that they were anonymous heightened the fear. | The judge said of the abusive tweets: "The fact that they were anonymous heightened the fear. |
| "The victims had no way of knowing how dangerous the people making the threats were, whether they had just come out of prison, or how to recognise and avoid them if they came across them in public." | "The victims had no way of knowing how dangerous the people making the threats were, whether they had just come out of prison, or how to recognise and avoid them if they came across them in public." |
| 'Terrifying and scarring' | |
| Ms Criado-Perez said in a statement: "It's hard to get my thoughts together at the moment as my stomach is churning - hearing the outcome has made me realise how tense and anxious I have been feeling. But here goes. | Ms Criado-Perez said in a statement: "It's hard to get my thoughts together at the moment as my stomach is churning - hearing the outcome has made me realise how tense and anxious I have been feeling. But here goes. |
| "I did not attend the sentencing as I didn't feel I could cope with being in court with them - and I didn't feel sure that the judge would understand how terrifying and scarring the whole experience has been for me, which again is not something I could face. | "I did not attend the sentencing as I didn't feel I could cope with being in court with them - and I didn't feel sure that the judge would understand how terrifying and scarring the whole experience has been for me, which again is not something I could face. |
| "I feel immensely relieved that the judge clearly has understood the severity of the impact this abuse has had on me." | "I feel immensely relieved that the judge clearly has understood the severity of the impact this abuse has had on me." |
| Sorley and Nimmo were each ordered to pay £800 in compensation by the court. Ms Criado-Perez said the damages awarded to her would go to charity. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said the pair were arrested after an investigation by its Cyber Crime Unit, following complaints from two women who were targeted on social networking sites. | |
| Scotland Yard said a 32-year-old man arrested in Bristol in August remained on bail as part of the same investigation. | |
| A 27-year-old man arrested in York in November has been released with no further action. |