Man avoids jail after calling MPs 'baby killers' in abusive messages

A man who targeted MPs with abusive messages which included branding them "baby killers" has received a suspended prison sentence.

Adrian Price, 57, sent emails and voicemail messages to Yvette Cooper, Sir James Cleverly and Peter Kyle, Wigan Magistrates’ Court was told.

Addressing the court, Price stated: "I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours protesting. It all got too much for my head. My bipolar."

In voicemails sent to the office of Ms Cooper, the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley and current Health Secretary, he said: "You dirty bitch. I’m going to get you. You baby killing c***. You have got war criminal all over you."

A second voicemail message to Ms Cooper said: "You stink of Israeli genocide.

"Just because you don’t have your own children doesn’t mean you should kill others.

"We all know you have taken dirty shekels.

"Israeli sponsored bitch."

Ms Cooper has three children.

Targeting Sir James Cleverley, the Conservative MP for Braintree, Price, an unemployed concrete re-enforcer, left a message stating: "Just because people don’t support Israel, don’t think they’re antisemitic, you f****** baby killing bastard."

To Mr Kyle, the Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, he said: "You stink of dead Palestinian children, you dirty, failed human being."

Prosecutor Jane Deakin informed the court that emails transmitted by Price "were in similar terms".

Price, residing in Bombay Road, Wigan, previously admitted three counts of malicious communications taking place between 26 January and 9 March earlier this year.

Victim impact statements were provided by two of the MPs.

Sir James noted that while MPs expect disagreement, Price went "far beyond critical political engagement". He stated such conduct generated "distress and alarm" for himself and his staff, disrupting constituency work.

Mr Kyle’s statement read: "No one should have to be afraid to go to their workplace or work.

"It has created an atmosphere of terror."

Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, who oversees security and pastoral care for MPs, submitted a statement saying: "I firmly believe we have an obligation to protect democracy, particularly those elected by the ballot box.

"In recent years I have received phone calls that two members of Parliament have been murdered."

The Speaker warned that harassment erodes trust and causes fear, noting MPs have told him they intend to stand down at the next election, adding: "Democracy itself is at risk."

Katie Maloney, defending, said Price feels remorse and was struggling with mental health while self-medicating using alcohol during the offences. She noted he now acknowledges his need for counselling and has reduced drinking.

Sentencing him, District Judge Lucy Hogarth told the defendant: "You caused real fear and distress both to the targets and their staff.

"There was an implied threat of violence to Yvette Cooper.

"This kind of language is not going to change anybody’s minds."

Judge Hogarth stated that due to prospects for rehabilitation, the 16-week sentence would be suspended for 18 months.

Price was given an alcohol treatment requirement, probation supervision, and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £239 in court costs and victim surcharge, and received a 10-year restraining order barring contact with the three MPs.