A so-called “keyboard warrior” was sentenced to three years in prison in the UK for his posts on the social media platform X.
Wayne O’Rourke, 35, was sentenced to three years in prison for “inciting racial hatred” during recent anti-immigration protests and riots.
According to local Lincolnshire Free PressO’Rourke had spread false information about the Southport knife attack that killed three young girls, claiming the killer was a Muslim or an illegal immigrant, both of which were untrue.
O’Rourke gave his 90,000 followers advice on how to maintain anonymity during protests – a practice that left-wing activist groups often tell their followers in the run-up to controversial protests.
In handing down the verdict, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight accused O’Rourke of “inciting” the unrest through his social media posts, saying: “The fire is being stoked by keyboard warriors like you.”
BBC: Court hears man arrested for ‘anti-establishment rhetoric’ on social mediahttps://t.co/xYLJWyp0V4
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 14 August 2024
One of O’Rourke’s offensive posts read: “People of Southport where the hell are you, take to the streets.”
Another, accompanying a picture of a burning car in Sunderland, said: “Sunderland, keep it up lads”
“Starmer has basically said: us against them. Stay on the line,” he wrote in a separate X-post.
Other posts included, “Numbers matter” and “Give them hell, boys.”
O’Rourke’s defence lawyer Lucia Harrington told the court that her client had been “swept up in the media hysteria” following the Southport stabbing and had not opened his account with the intention of inciting unrest.
Harrington added that O’Rourke wants to “re-educate himself” about the things he did wrong.
Kate Anderson, Chief Superintendent of Lincolnshire, commented on the case: “This prosecution shows that we take swift and decisive action against anyone suspected of sharing harmful content online.”
“We remain committed to proactive policing and keeping people safe across the country.
“This action shows that everyone is responsible for their actions – whether they happen in public or online.”
‘Stirring up hatred’ – Briton jailed after taunting Muslims at non-violent anti-migration protesthttps://t.co/gOOiiVX3dB
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 17 August 2024
Follow Kurt Zindulka on X: Follow @KurtZindulka or by email to: [email protected]
