'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (2024)

A 53-year-old carer has been jailed after she admitted posting on Facebook: "Don't protect the mosques, blow the mosque up with the adults in it".

It comes as prison sentences continue to be handed out following recent disorder and rioting in the UK and rioting, which came after the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport on 29 July.

Julie Sweeney was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to 15 months in prison after she admitted posting the comment on 3 August.

Sweeney, a carer for her husband since 2015 who had never "troubled the courts before", sent the comment to a local community Facebook group from her home in Church Lawton, Cheshire.

Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, told the court how one of the community group's 5,100 members on Facebook became "uneasy" at a number of comments posted on the site in the wake of the widespread violent disorder.

The message was later reported to the police, and they arrested Sweeney, who told officers: "I'm not being rude, but there are a lot of people saying it."

She later pleaded guilty to sending a communication to convey a threat of death or serious harm.

Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder Of Chester, told Sweeney: "You should have been looking at the news and media with horror like every right-minded person. Instead, you chose to take part in stirring up hatred.

"You were part of a Facebook account which had 5,100 members. You had a big audience. You threatened a mosque, wherever it was. It truly was a terrible threat.

Advertisem*nt

"So-called keyboard warriors like you must learn to take responsibility for your disgusting and inflammatory language."

Sweeney said she posted the comment "in anger", had "no intention to put people in fear" and conceded it was "unacceptable" and that she would be "deleting Facebook".

John Keane, defending, said: "She accepts it was stupid. This was a single comment on a single day.

"She lives a quiet, sheltered life in Cheshire and has not troubled the courts in her long life."

Rioters responsible for recent violence across the country have been having their court cases fast-tracked to warn others of the consequences.

Meanwhile, others have also been sent to prison on Wednesday for their role in the riots.

'Racist, hate-fuelled mob violence'

Connor Whiteley, 26, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker after playing a "prominent role" in "racist, hate-fuelled mob violence" in Hull on 3 August.

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (1)

He was jailed on Wednesday after Hull Crown Court heard Whiteley was at the front of a group confronting police trying to protect a hotel known to house asylum seekers.

He kicked the shield of a female police officer, forcing her off her feet and leaving her with minor arm injuries.

Whiteley was also part of a group targeting a garage, setting cars on fire and shouting threats at staff, who were forced to lock themselves inside.

While the attack was taking place, the judge said "members of the public, including children, were terrified and cowering only 20m away whilst threats were being made to kill them".

Rotherham footage 'worst judge has seen'

Whiteley was sentenced to three years in prison - the same term given to 49-year-old Trevor Lloyd, who was part of a mob storming a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (2)

The father-of-three, of Oak Avenue in Rotherham, filmed on a phone as he followed a group into the Holiday Inn Express through a smashed-in fire door, a judge heard.

Sheffield Crown Court was shown footage of the crowd breaking in, bringing out items including furniture and fire extinguishers and throwing them at police officers holding riot shields.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC - who has already sentenced several people in connection with this incident - said this was the "worst footage I have seen".

Glen Guest, 60, of Pearson Crescent in Wombwell, South Yorkshire, was jailed for two years and eight months after he pulled a police officer to the ground at the same riot.

During the riot, more than 50 police officers were injured and there were attempts to storm and set light to the building.

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (3)

Two jailed after Bristol disorder

Dominic Capaldi, 34, has been jailed for 34 months for violent disorder in Bristol on 3 August.

Bristol Crown Court heard Capaldi was captured on police bodycam footage throwing objects towards officers in the city's Castle Park, while crowds chanted "send them back".

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (4)

The ground worker was also seen throwing objects at police who were trying to stop protesters from entering a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

Read more:
Respect for police needs to be restored, says minister
Prisons feeling pressure from wave of UK riot charges

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (5)

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Daniel Russell, 47, from Bristol, has been jailed for 32 months after admitting violent disorder in the city on the same day.

Bristol Crown Court heard Russell was seen kicking a black man, who may have been part of an anti-racism protest, after the man broke through police lines separating the two groups in Castle Park.

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (6)

The ground worker was then captured on footage shared on social media kicking out at counter-protesters stood in front of the entrance to the hotel.

'Keyboard warrior'

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old woman, who lived a "quiet, sheltered life" was jailed for 15 months after posting a Facebook comment saying: "It's absolutely ridiculous. Don't protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it."

Julie Sweeney sent the comment to a local community group on 3 August from her home in Church Lawton, Cheshire, which was reported to police.

Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett said: "I don't think anyone is suggesting that the defendant would have been involved in that herself but so-called keyboard warriors like her have to learn to take responsibility for their language - particularly in the context of the disorder that was going on around the country."

During her arrest, a court heard she told officers: "I'm not being rude but there are a lot of people saying it."

Sweeney said she posted the comment "in anger" and agreed it was "unacceptable" - and that she would be "deleting Facebook".

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (7)

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Fake AK-47 'threats' video accusation

A man accused of threatening serious harm and death with an imitation AK-47 assault rifle in a social media video viewed 1.4 million times denied the charges against him.

Habeeb Khan pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to a charge of possessing an imitation AK-47 between 4-6 August with intent to cause "members of the EDL" (English Defence League) to believe unlawful violence would be used against them.

Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free

Khan, 49, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, also denied sending a threatening communication between the same dates in a video uploaded to X.

Judge Simon Drew KC was told the defendant said he did not know the video was being circulated on social media and claimed he did not upload it.

'Keyboard warrior' carer jailed for 15 months over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post (2024)
Top Articles
견자희 합성
Primeval Essence Wow
Cappacuolo Pronunciation
Po Box 7250 Sioux Falls Sd
#ridwork guides | fountainpenguin
Restaurer Triple Vitrage
Fat People Falling Gif
Mrh Forum
Unitedhealthcare Hwp
Overnight Cleaner Jobs
Undergraduate Programs | Webster Vienna
Tv Schedule Today No Cable
Acbl Homeport
Rainfall Map Oklahoma
Craigslist Estate Sales Tucson
Find The Eagle Hunter High To The East
Wunderground Huntington Beach
Keurig Refillable Pods Walmart
Nj Scratch Off Remaining Prizes
Mini Handy 2024: Die besten Mini Smartphones | Purdroid.de
Toy Story 3 Animation Screencaps
Paychex Pricing And Fees (2024 Guide)
Nesz_R Tanjiro
Aris Rachevsky Harvard
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Showtimes Near Cinépolis Vista
Puretalkusa.com/Amac
Providence Medical Group-West Hills Primary Care
LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series
Www.craigslist.com Austin Tx
15 Primewire Alternatives for Viewing Free Streams (2024)
Dashboard Unt
1636 Pokemon Fire Red U Squirrels Download
Neteller Kasiinod
Till The End Of The Moon Ep 13 Eng Sub
Warn Notice Va
"Pure Onyx" by xxoom from Patreon | Kemono
Southern Democrat vs. MAGA Republican: Why NC governor race is a defining contest for 2024
Police Academy Butler Tech
Magicseaweed Capitola
The Complete Guide To The Infamous "imskirby Incident"
Hell's Kitchen Valley Center Photos Menu
Trivago Anaheim California
3 Zodiac Signs Whose Wishes Come True After The Pisces Moon On September 16
Is Ameriprise A Pyramid Scheme
Why Are The French So Google Feud Answers
Haunted Mansion (2023) | Rotten Tomatoes
RubberDucks Front Office
Premiumbukkake Tour
Concentrix + Webhelp devient Concentrix
Ciara Rose Scalia-Hirschman
Rétrospective 2023 : une année culturelle de renaissances et de mutations
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6207

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.