Heidi Allen MP: jailing of troll sends a 'powerful message'
South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen has spoken of her relief and gratitude after the jailing of an internet troll who sent her and six other politicians malicious messages.
Jarod Kirkman, 51, of Torquay Drive, Luton sent the messages to seven politicians, including South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen, Labour’s David Lammy and former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, Westminster magistrates’ court heard.
He was jailed for almost 10 months on April 18 after pleading guilty to seven charges earlier last month.
Kirkman, who is unemployed, sent a message to former Tory Heidi Allen, now interim leader of Change UK, the Independent Group, saying: “Your days are f*****g numbered b***h. Will it be polonium or novichok? Either way you will never know, expect it soon.”
Ms Allen said she had been ‘bowled over’ when she heard he had been jailed, adding: “I couldn't believe the judge had been so strong in his sentencing. I appreciate that with best behaviour he may get out sooner than 42 weeks, but it sends an incredibly powerful message.
The fact that I was shocked by that sentence tells you how much you get used to this and it just becomes normal getting emails like that.
"So, thank you to that judge because I’m hoping he will send a really powerful message to anyone who thinks it is OK to make up an email address and send death threats because it is not. And the police are brilliant and they will find you."
Kirkman also sent threatening emails to Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Jenny Chapman, former Tory Nick Boles and Sarah Wollaston of the Independent Group.
The messages were all sent between December 4, 2018 and January 21 this year. Kirkman admitted sending malicious communications at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 8 April. He was arrested in Luton on January 29 after police traced the messages to his home IP address.
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