Brexit-backing troll jailed for death threats and racist messages to MPs

A pro-Brexit online troll who told Labour MP David Lammy to "go back to the jungle" has been jailed for nearly 10 months.

Jarod Kirkman, 51, sent malicious messages to seven politicians, including Mr Lammy and former Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan.

Subject lines on the online messages included "Brexit traitor" and "Brexit loser" and featured email addresses such as MP@deadpoliticianwalking.com and Putin@fsb.ru.

Kirkman, who is unemployed, sent one message to Heidi Allen from the Independent Group, saying: "Your days are f****** numbered b****.

"Will it be polonium or novichok? Either way you will never know, expect it soon."

The court also heard Kirkman told Mr Lammy: "Go back to the jungle n***** where you belong", while another said "f*** off and die in the jungle".

He also sent messages to Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Jenny Chapman, former Conservative minister Nick Boles and Sarah Wollaston from the Independent Group.

The messages were sent in December last year and January this year, and were said to have caused distress and anxiety to the MPs' staff that opened them.

Kirkman, from Luton, was traced via his IP address and pleaded guilty to seven charges earlier this month.

During the sentencing at Westminster Magistrates Court, 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 did not react as his sentencing was read out.

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."

Ms Morgan, who was told "your days are f****** numbered bitch, death will be swift," by Kirkman in a message, said after the sentencing: "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.

"I hope today's sentence sends out a message to anyone else who might think about making such threats that action will be taken.

"MPs will not be put off doing our best for our constituents and the country."

Kirkman was given five weeks for each of the six counts of sending threatening messages, which will be served consecutively, which is 30 weeks.

He will also serve a 12-week custody sentence for the racist messages he sent to Mr Lammy, making his jail term 42 weeks.

As well as that, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140 and was handed a five-year restraining order on each of the MPs.

Responding to the sentencing, Mr Lammy said: "I take no pleasure in seeing members of the public jailed... But death threats and racial abuse have no place in our politics.

"We will not be cowed."