A University of Aberdeen worker who sparked outrage by wishing an agonising death for Ann Widdecombe has been accused of pushing violent rhetoric online after posting an AI-generated image of his partner posing with rifles.
Gun Image Posted on Bluesky
Heather Herbert, a web developer at the university, shared the image on the Bluesky platform in January. It shows his partner Sophie Molly dressed in military gear with a Che Guevara-style beret, with rifles visible on the wall behind. The post was captioned: "This one's for glinner and Helen Joyce," referring to feminist campaigner and writer Graham Linehan and Helen Joyce, director of advocacy for sex-based rights charity Sex Matters.
Widdecombe Death Wish Sparks Probe
Herbert is currently under investigation by his employer and Police Scotland after posting online that he hoped Ann Widdecombe, 78, died "screaming in agony" while "chained to the bed." Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and Reform UK member, was found dead last Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, after suffering serious injuries. A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, Yorkshire, has been arrested, and the killing is being investigated by counter-terrorism police.
Following initial statements that there was no criminality, Police Scotland later said: "Following further assessment, additional inquiries are being carried out." The Scottish Greens are also probing Herbert, who is a party member.
Accusations of Male Aggression
Helen Joyce, whose organisation Sex Matters campaigns for women's rights, condemned Herbert's actions. She said: "The violent rhetoric and imagery deployed by so many trans-identifying men when they speak about women who don't think men become women by simply saying so completely undermines the idea that these men are some sort of oppressed minority. This is standard issue male aggression, as routinely deployed against women who stand up for women's rights rather than simply acquiescing with men's demands, no matter how unreasonable."
Joyce added: "Women's rights rely on being able to name men as men, no matter how those men identify and no matter how much those men object. Those of us who campaign for women's rights won't be bullied out of doing so by toxic, abusive trans-identifying men like Sophie Molly and his partner Heather Herbert."
Polycule Video with Bullets Comment
The Daily Record reported that Herbert laughed along in a video while a friend known as Poppybear Hackett made comments about "giving bullets" to those who don't love trans people. In the video, Hackett says: "What the f*** does it matter what the colour of your skin is, what your sexual orientation is? Why don't we all just show some love and if people don't show love, show bullets."
The video was highlighted on X by feminist group Women Won't Wheesht, which tweeted: "They're scary, frightening men who get a kick out of terrifying women."
Herbert Refuses to Back Down
After being spotlighted for his comments on Widdecombe, Herbert refused to back down, even after Aberdeen University launched an inquiry. He told the university's student paper The Gaudie: "I don't want to see anybody murdered but I'm still glad she is dead. I'm not a hypocrite. I posted that before the murder investigation was launched."
Campaigner Calls for Action
Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which won a Supreme Court ruling last year that enshrines biology as the defining element of gender, said action is needed over the extreme views. She claimed she and her colleagues have been called child abusers, terrorists and bigots by Herbert and other campaigners on a web channel called The Polycule.
Smith said: "There are clearly people who find violence against women funny and who get some kind of thrill from it. They are glorifying it and this may well encourage others who could be prepared to take it further."
