"What made this different was the explicit and repeated threats"
Wajid Shah, aged 27, of Slough, was jailed for two years after he sent death threats to politicians including former Prime Minister Theresa May.
He had targeted Mrs May as well as Lord David Blunkett and Baroness Ruth Lister, both Labour peers.
Shah also sent threats to Tory MP’s Caroline Nokes and Mark Lancaster, and Labour MP Tan Dhesi.
Barry McElduff, prosecuting, said that Baroness Lister found Shah’s email “threatening” and “upsetting”.
Mr McElduff added: “She said this was indicative of a disturbed mind and this was the first time she received such a communication whilst a member of the House of Lords.”
Caroline Nokes received an email on March 8, 2019, in the Commons Library.
Mr McElduff said: “Whilst she had received abusive emails before from others this was particularly concerning as it referred to her to her role as immigration minister and the sender had looked up her constituency address.
“She noted the sender may have mental health concerns, but she, for entirely understandable reasons, drew comparison to the events to the events that led to the tragic death of Jo Cox MP.”
Lord Blunkett described the messages he received as “deeply offensive and threatening”.
An email sent to Shah’s local MP Mr Dhesi read: “You’re a real b*****d Tan Dhesi you son of b***h motherf****r, I’m going to kill you with a knife or a gun you b*****d c**t d***head p***k. I chop your f-king head off…”
Mr Dhesi said: “They caused a degree of alarm and I was concerned for my safety.
“I am one of the few members of Parliament who conducts public surgeries without the need for appointment.
“Whilst I am not currently deterred from doing so, I welcome the offer of increased police presence.
“It has directly affected my work and my ability to act as a member of Parliament.”
Shah said he would kill Theresa May with “a knife or a gun”.
On the messages, Mrs May said: “Although unacceptable, as a politician I do occasionally get abusive messages.
“What made this different was the explicit and repeated threats to kill me.”
She added that the abusive messages left her “anxious and concerned”.
Shah sent the emails through WriteToThem.com, a website used for contacting politicians.
He signed the messages off in either the name of his father Azmat Shah or Jobcentre Plus employee Jasmindar Badyal.
It was heard that relations within the family had split.
Mr McElduff said: “It would seem that the relations between Azmat and Noreen had broken down and the children had taken sides in the fall out from that breakdown, reflected in one way by the sleeping arrangements.
“Wajid and Abid sharing the largest with their mother, it would seem that in addition to sleeping they used it as a de facto living room, and kitchen as well.
“It gives you an idea of how things were breaking down, sadly, in the family.
“It would seem the two other boys are very close to mother and would act as translators for Noreen Shah as she spoke little or no English.
“Wajid had considerable anxiety about her necessity should it arise to complete the UK citizenship test.
“And the UK citizenship test sits alongside the allegations of this case for this reason.”
“Many of the persons that received abusive emails in this case either had a direct link to the UK immigration test or a perceived link to the UK immigration test.”
Giving evidence, Ms Badyal said Shah attended the Job Centre every day to use the computers on his job search, mostly by himself.
Shah was described as “quiet, polite and compliant” and avoided interacting with others.
Shah denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of six counts of sending electronic communication with intent to cause fear.
Judge Philip Bartle QC called the threatening emails “abusive and abhorrent”.
Judge Bartle said: “Mr Shah sent similar messages to Boris Johnson and others but they were not received.
“Mr Shah has severe learning difficulties. He does not suffer from any mental health disorder.
“As the report says he has an IQ of 58, which is within the extremely low range.”
It was pointed out that despite Shah’s learning difficulties, he was able to plan the offences by targeting MP’s linked to immigration as well as geographical proximity.
Shah was jailed for two years.
Loading ...