Man sentenced for sending offensive messages to a Member of Parliament

A man has been sentenced for sending offensive
messages to a Member of Parliament.

Michael McAlpine, 25 (07.09.91) of Cephas Street, Bethnal
Green E1, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
today, Tuesday 6 June to two counts of sending a message that
was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing
nature, contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act
2003.

He was sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12
months, 200 hours of unpaid work and he was ordered to pay
£500 to the victim in compensation and costs of £150.

This is in relation to messages sent to the MP via Twitter on
2 December 2016.

The MP took screenshots of the Tweets and reported the
messages to police. McAlpine was arrested on 3 December 2016.

Officers carried out a number of enquiries and the court
heard McAlpine tried to cover his tracks by deleting his
Twitter account and going on to a website to delete his
tweets.

In interview, McAlpine admitted sending the messages.

McAlpine was charged on 23 May 2017.