A ‘GROSSLY offensive’ voicemail message sent to a Leamington-based politician has earned the sender a jail sentence.
At Coventry Magistrates’ Court, Birmingham man Stuart William Tonkins, 66, pleaded guilty to sending a communication conveying an offensive message and was given an eight-week jail term. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128.
The message, which was left in February, was picked up by the politician’s assistant who reported it to police.
Det Cons Mike Harrison from Leamington CID said: “The bar for charging with this offence is extremely high and must take into account people’s right to freedom of expression. The content of the message was so grossly offensive that a charge was authorised and ultimately resulted in this guilty plea and prison sentence.
“People should be under no illusion that messages this offensive can be left without repercussions. We can trace you and people breaking the law will be brought to justice.”
