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Man who threatened MP over email sentenced

BBC Robbie Moore MP wearing suit outside ParliamentBBC
Robbie Moore MP says the messages sent by Richard Inman "instilled fear" in his team

A man who sent threatening emails to his local MP and later turned up at his constituency office has been sentenced.

Richard Inman, 41, pleaded guilty to three charges relating to messages he sent to Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and Ilkley, in January 2023.

Inman, of Heather Grove, Keighley, sent nine emails to Mr Moore over two days, including a message saying "the real men of this county will hang the lot of you".

At Bradford Magistrates' Court, Inman was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Inman contacted the Conservative MP following a problem accessing his mother's medical records, the court heard.

He told the MP "pretty soon the whole country will know my name", along with "it will only get worse".

Another message read: "I will be very mad if I don't get satisfaction - someone will pay for this injustice."

In a victim impact statement read out by a barrister, Mr Moore said the messages had "instilled fear in my team" and it was "not something you stop thinking about".

PA Media An exterior image of Bradford Magistrates' CourtPA Media
The hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court heard Richard Inman was "totally ashamed" of his actions

Mr Moore said there had been "emotional challenges" in his team as a result of Inman's behaviour, along with "nervousness" when talking to members of the public.

"My colleagues and I should not feel fear when coming into work to do our jobs," the statement from Mr Moore said.

Inman, who represented himself during proceedings, was warned not to approach Mr Moore's constituency office, the MP's home or the homes of two staff members.

"I take a very serious view of these cases," judge Tan Ikram said.

"Public servants are very vulnerable for a number of reasons."

The judge reminded Inman that "MPs have been murdered" and "they take those threats seriously".

Inman told the hearing: "I just lost the plot with everything, stress just got the better of me.

"I am not a violent man and I am totally ashamed of my actions."

He was told to pay £85 in court costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

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