Man jailed for 'uttely deplorable' and 'shamelessly racist' messages
Victims - which included MP Jess Philips and London Mayor Sadiq Khan - worried about the possibility of escalation in light of the murder of Jo Cox
Last updated 18th Feb 2025
A man from Devon was today given a 28-week jail term after sending malicious messages, including to MP Jess Philips and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Jack Bennett, 39, from Newlands Park in Seaton - who lives with his mum - admitted to five charges at Exeter Magistrates which also targeted senior Met Police officer Matt Twist.
District Judge Stuart Smith told Bennett the content was 'utterly deplorable, saturated in hate and intolerance', adding he felt it was 'shamelessly racist'.
He cited examples of messages to Mayor Khan which he called ''abhorrent, dehumanising and completely against the values of our society' and reflected the messages to MP Jess Phillips caused 'great distress' over the 'potential to escalate' in light of murdered MP Jo Cox.
The judge was told Bennett was angry at what he felt were decisions 'against white English patriots' and a lack of a national public inquiry into grooming gangs. His defence today told the judge he has 'learnt his lesson and not done it since' and now knows he 'must express his views in a more measured way'.
Defence Solicitor Caroline Salvadore told the court Bennett was autistic and 'trying to be offensive to shock them out of complacency'.
The court was told he lived an increasingly 'socially isolated' existence and during the Covid pandemic was 'exposed to right wing propaganda' and as he 'became incensed' found that 'their phrases became part of his political vocabulary'.
The court heard the death of his father in 2023 was a 'triggering event' and he 'went off the rails from there' and started to live his life online where he found an answer to his 'unformed discontent'.
The messages were sent between April 2024 and January 2025. The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously spoken about a 'line being crossed' in light of messages sent to Ms Phillips - a former minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls.
Judge Smith reflected that whilst public figures might be contacted from those with differing views, he felt Mr Bennett's emails 'amounted to no more than vulgar racist abuse, containing no new ideas and information'.
He told Bennett public officials perform a 'crucial role in society' and his actions - if unchecked - could result in other people not putting themselves forward.
Mr Bennett, who has no previous convictions, will serve 12 weeks for messages to Mr Khan and eight weeks consecutive for messages to Ms Phillips and Twist - with a restraining order to not contact the trio for five years. The 39 year old must also pay £272.