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A man has been jailed for 12 weeks for making grossly offensive comments on his Facebook page? - Manxbiker - 10-15-2012 09:16 PM
about missing youngster April Jones.
Matthew Woods, 19, from Chorley, Lancashire, made a number of derogatory posts about April and missing Madeline McCann after getting the idea from Sickipedia - a website that "trades in sick jokes".
He also wrote comments of a sexually explicit nature about the five-year-old who went missing last week from near her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales.
Chorley Magistrates' Court heard members of the public were so upset about his postings that they reported them to the police.
A "vigilante mob" of around 50 people later descended upon his home address in Eaves Lane and the defendant was arrested on Saturday night at a separate address for his own safety.
Martina Jay, prosecuting, said: "When interviewed by police he fully admitted he posted messages about the two missing children.
"He started this idea when he was at a friend's house when drinking, saw a joke on Sickipedia and changed it slightly.
"He said he did it in a bid to make people think his account had been hacked. He said it got out of hand and he was drunk while doing it."
He conceded to police that his Facebook account - available to a large number of people - had not been hacked and that he was responsible for all the postings made on October 3 and 4.
Unemployed Woods entered a guilty plea to sending by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive.
After meeting his client for the first time, defending solicitor David Edwards told the bench: "What struck me immediately is that the enormity of what he has done has finally sunk in.
"He did seem genuinely remorseful and regretful for what he had done."
The solicitor said Woods explained what had started as a joke had gone wrong.
"His future is uncertain. He does not know whether he can go back to his home address. He fully accepts he was the author of his own misfortune," Mr Edwards added.
He asked for a community service order to be considered but the bench was told that custody could be imposed for anyone who is convicted of using extreme language that causes substantial distress or fear to another.
The bench asked for a pre-sentence report from a probation officer and said it would keep all options open ahead of sentencing, which will take place later.
How can being drunk be an excuse for this i fail to see it myself
- Blue - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
dave s needs to be careful, he oversteps the bounds of acceptability with almost every post he makes. I'm glad people are finally wising up to the internet and what is socially unacceptable
- ♥Sali90♥ - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
Serves him right and anyone else who thinks that they can type vile comments online, however will Frankie Boyle be charged for the offensive Twitter joke he made about Madelaine McCann recently?
- Matt Bâ„¢ Pleb - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
That old excuse I was drunk, maybe he should not drink if he acts like that. I hope it has taught him a lesson, He obviously has a sick mind and I think the best place or him is behind bars, for his own safety as well as others.
- Roger Ramsbottom - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
the guys a stupid fool with an attitude problem....but jailing him for 12 weeks is this weeks instalment from the establishment to remind you that disagreeing with multiculturalism,homos getting married or generally being unpleasant and hurting peoples feelings is not allowed in post democratic Britain..you will conform keep your mouth shut be a good little worker ,go home and consume to keep the rich man sitting on his yacht...and dont think the election of a new face will change anything.no...we are all owned by the rich and the powerful who will do anything they want to further their agendas
check out youtube "George Carlin The American Dream" who in 3 mins spells out exactly the predicament we are in
- Paine - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
I don't believe people should be jailed for making offensive comments - this is ridiculous.
- Tigerlily - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
Who is the other missing child? He wont be having fun in prison, he'll be beging to be kept in solitary when he gets realeased by the sound of it. Think before you type.
- Fanaticalwinter193 - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
Some laws in Britain aid criminal activity perpetrated by justice officials. To lay hands on someone for speaking what seems to be offensive should be a criminal offense.
- David Harrison. - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
A mob eh. We cant blame Muslims if we are the same. You are ok. CE category is now being monitored by a department set up by Zac. He has already been to the police because I said the Father looked "shifty" He did, about as shifty as Zac. No-one one here would dream of saying anything wrong about her.
- callalou1 - 10-15-2012 09:24 PM
Well, he hasn't been sentenced yet, so maybe being drunk won't hold up as an excuse anyway.
People are only beginning to learn that they cannot hide behind the pages of Facebook or hide anywhere else on the internet in order to vent their spleen or make inappropriate remarks or jokes. Too many are still seeing police intervention as an invasion of their 'freedom of speech', but fail to see that there is only so much freedom available to speak your mind without infringing the law.
They can protest and complain all they like, but they will come to learn that they are as accountable online as they are in the street, and many of them would not care, or dare to say on the street what they say online.