In a shocking court case that has gripped the nation, Lucy Connolly - the sister of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - has been sentenced to prison for posting deeply offensive racist content on social media.
The 53-year-old, who has a history of mental health issues, was found guilty of sending grossly offensive messages via a public communications network. The disturbing posts targeted individuals based on their race and included vile abusive language.
Despite her legal team's arguments about her mental state, District Judge Charlotte Holland handed down an immediate custodial sentence at Southampton Magistrates' Court. The judge emphasized that the severity of the offence warranted prison time, stating the posts contained 'grossly offensive, racist and abusive language' that crossed the criminal threshold.
This isn't Connolly's first encounter with the law regarding online behaviour. She was previously subject to a community order for similar offences, which she blatantly breached, leading to this more severe punishment.
The case has put Sir Keir Starmer in an uncomfortable position, though he has maintained distance from his sister's actions. A Labour spokesperson confirmed the leader 'hasn't had any contact with her for several years' and that 'this is a matter for the police and the courts'.
Connolly's defence argued that her mental health conditions should mitigate the sentence, but the court maintained that protection of the public from such hate-filled rhetoric took precedence.
The sentence serves as a stark warning about the very real consequences of posting hate speech online, regardless of the perpetrator's personal circumstances or family connections.
