A Southport man who sent death threats and racist messages to seven MPs has been jailed for 42 weeks. Jarod Kirkman, 51, targeted politicians including former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan and Labour's David Lammy between December 2018 and January 2019.
Kirkman sent messages with subject lines such as 'Brexit traitor' and 'Brexit loser', using menacing email addresses. In one message to Heidi Allen, he wrote: 'Your days are fucking numbered bitch. Will it be polonium or novichok? Either way you will never know, expect it soon.'
He told Lammy: 'Go back to the jungle nigger where you belong.' Other threats were sent to Yvette Cooper, Jenny Chapman, Nick Boles and Sarah Wollaston. The messages caused distress to the MPs' staff who opened them.
Kirkman was arrested in Luton after police traced the messages to his home IP address. Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: 'You deliberately targeted MPs, from the safety of your home you threatened them. The message needs to go out that people who threaten MPs are threatening our democratic process.'
Kirkman received consecutive sentences totalling 42 weeks, including 12 weeks for the racist messages to Lammy. He was also ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge and given a five-year restraining order. In mitigation, his lawyer said Kirkman acted as a carer for his mother and was 'a stupid man who made a series of stupid decisions.'
