Man sentenced for leaving MP Naz Shah an offensive voicemail

A antheral who near an abusive dependable connection for MP Naz Shah has been fixed a suspended situation sentence, prosecutors person said.

Thomas Mearing, 26, pleaded blameworthy to a nationalist communications offence astatine Taunton Magistrates’ Court relating to a voicemail near for the Bradford West Labour MP connected November 19 2023.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mearing was sentenced to 12 weeks successful situation suspended for 18 months, arsenic good arsenic a five-year restraining bid that bans him from contacting Ms Shah oregon attending her office.

It described however Mearing near a voicemail accusing the MP of supporting Hamas, arsenic good arsenic making different “derogatory comments”.

There is simply a satellite of a quality betwixt robust disapproval – which elected representatives should expect – and hateful abuse, which neither Ms Shah nor her constituency unit should beryllium subjected to

Alex Herowych, CPS

Mearing had phoned Ms Shah’s constituency bureau astatine the play wherever the telephone went consecutive to voicemail. It was picked up by a subordinate of her unit the pursuing Monday, the CPS said.

The voicemail was reported to West Yorkshire Police, with officers tracing it backmost to Mearing who lived successful Yeovil, Somerset.

In a constabulary interview, Mearing accepted leaving the voicemail but insisted it was not intended to origin alarm oregon distress. He aboriginal pleaded blameworthy to sending an violative communication.

Alex Herowych, elder territory crown authoritative for the South West, said: “Mearing’s voicemail connection was highly violative and insulting to Ms Shah, and his comments person nary spot successful a civilised society.

“There is simply a satellite of a quality betwixt robust disapproval – which elected representatives should expect – and hateful abuse, which neither Ms Shah nor her constituency unit should beryllium subjected to.

“Members of Parliament are rightly protected by the aforesaid laws arsenic everyone else, and would-be abusers should cognize they cannot nonstop specified vitriolic messages without repercussions.”