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Twitter 'troll sent rape threats to MP Stella Creasy' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Twitter "troll" bombarded a Labour MP with abusive messages after she supported a feminist campaign, a court has heard. | A Twitter "troll" bombarded a Labour MP with abusive messages after she supported a feminist campaign, a court has heard. |
Peter Nunn, 33, retweeted "menacing" messages threatening to rape Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. | Peter Nunn, 33, retweeted "menacing" messages threatening to rape Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. |
The court heard he sent the posts after the Bank of England said Jane Austen would feature on the new £10 note. | The court heard he sent the posts after the Bank of England said Jane Austen would feature on the new £10 note. |
Mr Nunn of Emersons Green, Bristol, denies the charge. | Mr Nunn of Emersons Green, Bristol, denies the charge. |
Alison Morgan, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Nunn "embarked on a campaign of hatred in various different forms" against Ms Creasy and feminist Caroline Criado-Perez, who had launched the campaign to keep a woman on a British bank note. | Alison Morgan, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Nunn "embarked on a campaign of hatred in various different forms" against Ms Creasy and feminist Caroline Criado-Perez, who had launched the campaign to keep a woman on a British bank note. |
He is alleged to have sent a barrage of messages branding the MP an "evil witch" and talking about the "best way to rape a witch" over a number of days and from several Twitter accounts. | He is alleged to have sent a barrage of messages branding the MP an "evil witch" and talking about the "best way to rape a witch" over a number of days and from several Twitter accounts. |
Ms Morgan said: "It is not alleged that he created the text and the threat but, for whatever reason, he chose to retweet it and it is a message that is menacing in character." | Ms Morgan said: "It is not alleged that he created the text and the threat but, for whatever reason, he chose to retweet it and it is a message that is menacing in character." |
'Hatred towards the women' | |
The court heard that Mr Nunn, a self-styled blogger, also left offensive blog posts in which he branded the campaigners "witches" and mocked them, although the blog entries do not form part of the criminal charge. | The court heard that Mr Nunn, a self-styled blogger, also left offensive blog posts in which he branded the campaigners "witches" and mocked them, although the blog entries do not form part of the criminal charge. |
Ms Morgan said: "The background is that he appears to have formed a hatred towards the women expressing themselves on Twitter." | Ms Morgan said: "The background is that he appears to have formed a hatred towards the women expressing themselves on Twitter." |
Mr Nunn was arrested at his home on 7 August after Ms Creasy and Ms Criado-Perez reported the abuse. | Mr Nunn was arrested at his home on 7 August after Ms Creasy and Ms Criado-Perez reported the abuse. |
When questioned by police, he denied using Twitter to advocate violence or rape but admitted he had retweeted messages that were violent "to further debate". | When questioned by police, he denied using Twitter to advocate violence or rape but admitted he had retweeted messages that were violent "to further debate". |
Mr Nunn denies sending a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character by a public electronic network. | Mr Nunn denies sending a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character by a public electronic network. |
The case was adjourned until 2 September when it will resume for a day's hearing at City of London Magistrates' Court. | |
The defence team is planning to obtain medical evidence to ascertain whether Mr Nunn is suffering from an autistic disorder. | |
Mr Nunn was released on conditional bail. |
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