Photo credit: www.bbc.com
Devon Man Sentenced for Malicious Communications to Public Officials
A 39-year-old resident from Seaton, Devon, has been sentenced to imprisonment for sending threatening and abusive emails to prominent public figures, including a government minister and the mayor of London. Jack Bennett has been given a 28-week prison sentence after admitting to multiple counts of malicious communication.
Bennett, who resides on Newlands Park, pleaded guilty to four counts of sending harmful emails, specifically targeting Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips, Metropolitan Police officer Matt Twist, and two separate counts directed at Mayor Sadiq Khan. In addition, he faced a charge related to using a public communication network to disseminate offensive messages.
During the proceedings at Exeter Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Stuart Smith described the content of the emails as “utterly deplorable, foul, abusive, and saturated in hate.” The court heard testimony indicating that Bennett’s exposure to extreme right-wing propaganda during the Covid-19 pandemic helped amplify his hateful rhetoric, which had an anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Judge Smith emphasized the fear and distress caused to the recipients of Bennett’s communications, particularly highlighting the concerns of Phillips, the Birmingham Yardley MP, given the historical context of the murder of her colleague Jo Cox in 2016. This further underscored the potential consequences of Bennett’s actions in creating an atmosphere of intimidation towards public officials.
The malicious emails were sent between February 2024 and January 2025, resulting in Bennett’s guilty plea for the five charges. Following the sentencing, he was also issued a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the aforementioned public figures for a duration of five years.
Source
www.bbc.com