A Merseyside man has been jailed today for sending a offensive email to Labour's Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities that made her 'fear for her safety'.
Stewart Hanson from Tranmere, Wirral accused Naseem Shah, the MP for Bradford West, of anti-Semitism and suggested she tried to silence the victims of the recent Rotherham child abuse scandal.
The 57-year-old also made racist taunts and threatened the MP and her family with violence.
The email sent in October last year caused the MP huge distress and she contacted West Yorkshire police who traced the email back to Hanson's account.
He was arrested at his home in Tranmere.
Hanson pleaded guilty to one count of sending by public communication an offensive message at Wirral Magistrates’ Court.
District Judge Nick Sander sentenced Hanson to 12 weeks in jail, after the Crown Prosecution Service reminded the court that it was possible to increase an 8 week jail term to take account of the religious hate element of the offending.
Hanson must also pay £300 in compensation to the victim.
Alan Currums of Mersey Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service said: “This malicious communication caused Ms Shah significant alarm, harassment and distress, and made her fear for the safety of her family.
“When he was arrested and questioned by police, Hanson said he was ashamed of himself for sending the emails but that’s no explanation and certainly no excuse.
“MPs have a difficult job to do and are often in the public glare. That should not mean that they are targets of vicious, racist taunts and criticism that goes way beyond fair comment.
"District Judge Sanders pointed out that Ms Shah’s constituency is not a million miles away from that of Jo Cox.
“People often think that, when they send an email or social media communication from the privacy of their own home, they can't be traced.
"That is not true at all. The police and the CPS work together to protect the community from these people who take to their computers to spout hatred, violence and fear.
“There is no room for this sort of behaviour in a civilised society. Mr Hanson has no previous convictions and is now behind bars. He’s lost his good name and his freedom – for what? A vicious, racist and offensive email that has created fear alarm and distress. A lesson to anyone who takes to their keyboard to peddle hate.”
