'You will get it like Jo Cox': Internet troll John Nimmo faces jail for anti-semitic death threats to Labour MP

John Nimmo, who is facing jail after making anti-Semitic death threats to MP Luciana Berger
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Hatty Collier27 July 2016
WEST END FINAL

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An internet troll is facing jail for a second time after making anti-Semitic death threats to a Labour MP in which he told her she would "get it like Jo Cox".

John Nimmo, 28, from South Shields, sent two emails to Luciana Berger where he told her to "watch your back Jewish scum" and included a picture of a large knife.

His threats to the 35-year-old, who is running to become Mayor of Liverpool, came just three weeks after MP Jo Cox died after being shot and stabbed in her constituency.

He previously admitted two charges of sending malicious communications to Ms Berger during an appearance at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on July 13.

At a hearing in the same court today, chairman of the bench Ian Alexander told him that the seriousness of the offences meant they would send it to crown court for sentencing because magistrates did not have strong enough powers.

Nimmo was previously jailed in 2014 for eight weeks for sending abusive messages on Twitter to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez and MP Stella Creasy.

His first message to Ms Berger, the MP for Wavertree, made reference to Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who had been charged with a racially or religiously aggravated hate crime against her.

Sent at 7.54pm on July 6, it said: "Justice for Joshua Bonehill-Paine will be sweet, he has friends everywhere. Watch your back Jewish scum, regards your friend the Nazi."

He then followed it up two days later with "You will get it like Jo Cox did, you better watch your back Jewish scum", just as Ms Berger was leaving her office in the early evening.

The court heard a statement from the former shadow minister for mental health, in which she said it had caused her "great fear and anguish".

She said the incident had left her in a state of "huge distress" and "it caused me to feel physically sick being threatened in such a way".

"I was extremely concerned for my safety and I felt completely under threat. I had previously received anti-Semitic messages and threats but the reference to Jo Cox was terrifying," she said.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, told the court that Nimmo had been on bail at the time for emailing Tell Mama, a group that supports victims of anti-Muslim hate, saying he would burn down a mosque.

Along with Isabella Sorley, Nimmo previously pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 2014 to abusing Ms Criado-Perez and Ms Creasy.

After Ms Criado-Perez led a campaign using social media for a female figure to appear on a Bank of England note, he told her to “shut up” and made references to rape.

Paul Kennedy, defence, had argued for a suspended sentence, saying "he says these things for attention".

He remanded in custody until his sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court in August.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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