Man jailed for sending antisemitic messages to MP

A man who sent antisemitic messages to a Labour MP while drunk has been jailed for eight weeks.

Kevin Smith, 61, sent voice messages and 300 texts to the constituency office of Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel between 6 March and 15 March last year.

Leeds Magistrates' Court was told that most of the messages were "generally unpleasant and offensive", but many of the text messages included phrases like "kill the Jews".

Smith, who lives in Sobel's constituency, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to sending a malicious communication and was sentenced at the same court on Thursday.

The court heard how Smith had told the police officers arresting him that he was exercising his freedom of speech.

District Judge David Kitson told him: "While we all enjoy freedom of speech in this country, it is a qualified right.

"The targeting of people because of their religion is simply not permissible."

Targeting an MP "undermines the democratic process and democratic institutions in this country", Judge Kitson said.

"We are all aware that in recent times, sadly, at least two members of parliament have lost their lives after being targeted by fanatical individuals - one very close to this particular area."

The latter was an apparent reference to the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall in 2016.

The judge said Smith's messages had "quite clearly" led Sobel to become concerned, especially for the safety of his family.

The court heard that a pre-sentence probation report stated Smith had shown little or no remorse for what he had done.

According to the report, Smith "didn't care about the impact on Mr Sobel as he doesn't know him and he dislikes MPs in general".

Tal Spiegel, defending, told the court his client was very interested in politics, especially the war in Gaza.

He suggested Smith's isolated lifestyle, "sat in front of his TV", meant he had nobody to warn him about messaging in the way he did.

Mr Spiegel said Smith had not done anything similar in the last 21 months and now understood the "difference between being Israeli and Jewish".

The judge said Smith should be jailed for 10 weeks, but dropped that to eight weeks as an "act of mercy" after hearing about his health problems.

Smith was also made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting Sobel, unless it was about genuine constituency business, or going near his office.

Smith was heard to say "I don't believe this" as he was led to the cells following the hearing.

Speaking afterwards, Sobel said: "I hope Mr Smith is able to move forward with his life, make positive changes and access the support he needs to do so."

Following Smith's sentencing, Claire MacDonald, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "The right to freedom of expression does not extend to sending grossly offensive and menacing messages.

"Criminal offences committed against MPs imperil both the democratic process and our public service, and the antisemitic abuse subjected to Mr Sobel and his staff was simply unacceptable.

"Parliamentarians, like everyone else, should never have to work or live in fear and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute offenders who seek to harm and intimidate them."

Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust, which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said the organisation welcomed Smith's conviction.

His actions "intended to cause distress to Mr Sobel and his family, and such behaviour should have no place in our society", Mr Rich said.

"The right to hold politicians to account can never justify racist abuse of this nature," he added.

"If anything, this kind of behaviour undermines our democratic system, and we thank the CPS and police for their work in securing this conviction."