Jeremy Corbyn and Amber Rudd received ‘horrifically offensive’ death threats over Brexit - court told

MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, were allegedly sent horrific messages by Paul Ritchie

(PA)

A man accused of sending “horrifically offensive” death threats to senior MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and John Bercow over Brexit has appeared in court for the first time today.

Paul Ritchie, 34, is accused of sending a stream of menacing emails to prominent politicians including former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, SNP leader Ian Blackford, and ex-Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson.

He appeared at Westminster magistrates court via videolink from his home in Scotland to face the 28 criminal charges for the first time.

“This relates to a number of abusive emails that were sent to Members of Parliament at the time - serving now and former - between March and August 2019”, said prosecutor Ruby Selva.

“They were horrifically offensive in their terms, relating to death threats and also other personal attacks and threats to members of staff and family members.”

In seven messages allegedly sent to Mr Bercow and the Speaker’s office, Ritchie is accused of referencing murdered MP Jo Cox and including the words: ““If you thwart Brexit we will decapitate you.”

Ritchie, who lives in a village on the Scottish borders, is accused of sending two messages to Mr Corbyn when he was Labour leader, calling him a “terrorist”, suggesting he should be “hung for treason”, and adding: “Murdering you would be fully justified”.

It is said Ms Rudd, a prominent Remain campaigner, receive two threatening messages, including an email stating: “You are definitely going to be assassinated”.

At court today, Richie declined to indicate pleas to the 28 charges of sending an electronic communication conveying a threatening message.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram released him on conditional bail until the next hearing at Southwark crown court on March 25.

It is said Ritchie told Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price that he “deserve(s) to get shot in the face”, asked Ms Swinson if she was “trying to get shot”, and allegedly wrote to Mr Blackford: “I hope you die”.

The messages were all sent between March and August 2019, as the Brexit debate raged across the country and former Prime Minister Theresa May tried and failed to get her deal with the EU approved by Parliament.

Ritchie is also accused of targeting leading Remain MP Chuka Umunna, telling him “we will kill you and your entire family”, he allegedly told former London mayoral hopeful Rory Stewart he was “likely to be assassinated”, and allegedly wrote to Dominic Grieve saying: “If you stop Brexit we will decapitate you”.

Dr Phillip Lee, a Conservative minister who resigned from the government over Brexit before defecting to the Lib Dems, was allegedly told: “If you bring down the government you will be murdered and your family will never be safe”.

Ritchie is banned under the terms of his bail conditions from contacting any MPs, except if he needs to reach out to his local Parliamentary representative through solicitors.

Read More

Corbyn and Bercow ‘received death threats during Brexit negotiations’

London Crime: Murder rate reaches three year high

Princess Latifa urges UK police to reinvestigate sister’s ‘kidnap’