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Trolls Caroline Criado-Perez

Caroline Criado-Perez Twitter trolls jailed

By Angela Haggerty, Reporter

January 24, 2014 | 3 min read

Two people who subjected feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez to abuse on Twitter have been given prison sentences after pleading guilty to sending “menacing” messages to her earlier this month.

Targeted: Caroline Criado-Perez

Isabella Sorley was given a 12-week sentence at Westminster magistrates’ court and John Nimmo was jailed sentenced to eight weeks.

Nimmo used six different Twitter accounts to abuse Criado-Perez while Sorley claimed she had been under the influence and drink and drugs when she sent the messages. At the sentencing, the court head that Sorley had 25 previous convictions, mainly for being drunk and disorderly.

Upon sentencing, Judge Howard Riddle said: “The victims had no way of knowing how dangerous the people making the threats were, whether they had just come out of prison, or how to recognise and avoid them if they came across them in public.”

Craido-Perez has been subjected to a string of abusive and threatening tweets since last year. She responded to the sentence on Twitter, saying: “It's hard to get my thoughts together at the moment as my stomach is churning - hearing the outcome has made me realise how tense and anxious I have been feeling. But here goes.

“I did not attend the sentencing as I didn't feel I could cope with being in court with them - and I didn't feel sure that the judge would understand how terrifying and scarring the whole experience has been for me, which again is not something I could face.

“I feel immensely relieved that the judge clearly has understood the severity of the impact this abuse has had on me. The damages that have been awarded to me will be going to charity. When this has all sunk in I will decide which charity.”

The sentencing comes amid a week of headlines prompted by Twitter trolls targeting former footballer Stan Collymore. After receiving racist abuse and death threats, Collymore called on the social network to take stronger action against those responsible.

He was backed by the radio station he works for, Talksport, with a statement announcing it will no longer promote any associated Twitter accounts or use the platform as a method of interacting with listeners while on air.

Trolls Caroline Criado-Perez

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