To think it's ridiculous this idiot got a jail sentence ?

[chattycaterpillar]

I'm going to start the post with a disclaimer that the man is obviously very unpleasant and a racist, nasty piece of work. Last July, he sent Marcus Rashford a single tweet calling him a F* N word following penalty fails. Obviously extremely nasty, and I have no problem with him being charged by the police.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10668157/Teenager-jailed-six-weeks-racially-abusing-Marcus-Rashford-Italy-penalty-miss.html

However, I'm genuinely concerned that insulting people online appears to warrant jail time, when the following crimes appear not to. I'd also add that part of my misgivings about actual jail time are this was a single, ( although thoroughly unpleasant tweet), is that it was one tweet, but not a sustained period of harassment.

Am I right in not understanding how sending one abusive message got jail time, but the following didn't:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-60480256

www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/sunderland-dad-caught-with-troubling-collection-of-child-abuse-images-3630498

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gran-who-eight-out-10-23178021

www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/crime/kettering-man-spared-from-prison-over-sex-assault-3545684

Tbh, it comes down to, why are we jailing people for twitter/ facebook comments, but not actions that actually hurt others.

One tweet ?

What about all the horrific rape threats/death threats against JK Rowling ?

Seems excessive to me.

I get where your coming from

People can threaten women and children and be applauded for it but threaten a footballer and jail time! It should be equal value across the board

What about all the horrific rape threats/death threats against JK Rowling ?

She's a woman, who cares?

Firstly, it's not a race to the bottom.

Secondly, are you suggesting abusive racial slurs don't cause actual harm?

I was sure this was going to be about the guy who was imprisoned for being drunk on a plane, even though he wasn’t rude or aggressive. I don’t think he should have been sent to prison.

@RodiganReed

Firstly, it's not a race to the bottom.

Secondly, are you suggesting abusive racial slurs don't cause actual harm?

NO! equality means equality everyone gets punished equally no-one should give the impression well it's a rich white woman so no harm done or it's only a few dodgy images no harm done then when it comes down to a footballer being racially abused suddenly its a problem its ALL a problem

I agree with @RodiganReed. The issue is that other people need jail time too.

Was the Marcus Rashford abuser given a suspended sentence?

I don't disagree with the sentence but in general we are far too lenient with offenders in this country. A lot more people should be being sent to prison. So the ridiculous thing is the leniency of the sentences of the others being used as a comparison, not this idiot being given 6 weeks.

@LaurieFairyCake

One tweet ?

What about all the horrific rape threats/death threats against JK Rowling ?

This. In comparison one tweet is nothing.

@Duracellbunnywannabe

I agree with *@RodiganReed*. The issue is that other people need jail time too.

Was the Marcus Rashford abuser given a suspended sentence?

Not suspended no

@RodiganReed

Firstly, it's not a race to the bottom.

Secondly, are you suggesting abusive racial slurs don't cause actual harm?

Well of course they cause harm.

Do you seriously think the guy caused as much harm as any of the others spared jail though ?

Not jailing someone for another crime doesn't negate this one.
It's absolutely disgusting that those other people didn't get prison sentences, so YANBU with that, though.

I’m delighted with the sentence. The routine, racist abuse of black footballers is outrageous. Hopefully custodial sentences being handed out will deter others.

To be honest OP, there are probably hundreds or thousands of instances of people being given custodial sentences for things that many might perceive as more serious than the stories you link in your OP.

It’s weird…and perhaps telling…that this is the case/sentencing that you’ve singled out.

That article tells you nothing at all about the sentencing. Did this lad have a list of previous convictions for racially aggravated offences? Was he on a suspended sentence for similar behaviour? Were other offences laid against him as well as this single tweet?

Comparison isn't helpful. Take the actions out of the sentence. How did a person causing physical harm not get jail time but someone causing psychological harm did? Both should, right? So it isn't a helpful comparison. And the psychological harm comes with the potential unspoken threat of physical violence, AND racism incites and emboldens others to commit similar acts. A tweet can be a very powerful thing.

He deserves jail time. That doesn't mean the others don't deserve time in prison too.

It's so revealing that none of the threats against JK Rowing have been taken seriously. Institutional misogyny at its finest.

Who should also be appearing in the dock are Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, or at least their UK directors, for not making it more difficult and failing to act on such abuse. Prevention is far better.

Simple things such as proper registration with verifiable names/addresses, and a period between joining and posting comments could reduce such abuse.

Do you know his previous convictions? They will have had impact on sentence especially if he has form for racially motivated offending

The alleged deluge of JK Rowling death threats happened in November of last year (some months after the abuse of Rashford). I do not know the status of any investigation into them, but it would seem to early for any court cases/sentencings.

I also don’t think the steering of a conversation about racist of abuse of black men (Rashford not being the only target) to ‘what about white women’ in the blink of an eye is a very good look.

Do we know if JK Rowling ever made a complaint to the police about the threats made to her?

If she's not supporting a prosecution, will they bother with it? They can't police the entirety of Twitter.

I assume Marcus Radford supported this prosecution, possibly with the support of the England football team.

It’s weird…and perhaps telling…that this is the case/sentencing that you’ve singled out.

Don't be stupid. How often do we hear of people getting jail for an instance of online abuse?

The issue isn't the sentence it's the bizarre inconsistency of the law.

The OP has in no way excused what he did.

@donquixotedelamancha

It’s weird…and perhaps telling…that this is the case/sentencing that you’ve singled out.

Don't be stupid. How often do we hear of people getting jail for an instance of online abuse?

The issue isn't the sentence it's the bizarre inconsistency of the law.

The OP has in no way excused what he did.

Thank you. Of course I don't support what he did. I think sending racist hate messages is vile and I wouldn't associate with anyone who did.

Doesn't mean I think people should be put in jail for a single abusive tweet though. I find that quite disturbing.