Internet troll gets suspended sentence for threatening MP

Frank Zimmerman, the man who sent a threatening email to Tory MP Louise Mensch has received a suspended sentence of 26 weeks and is forbidden to contact her again.

The 60-year-old, who had failed to turn up to a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court last Friday, denied he had sent the email in which Mensch was called a 'slut' and told to stop using Twitter or decide which of her children would die if she didn't.

However he was found guilty under the Communications Act 2003 of sending a menacing and offensive message.

District judge Martin Brown said the "ugly and serious" comments went "beyond mere mischief". He said he had considered a custodial sentence but as Zimmerman had apparent health issues, he would suspend this for two years.

The email sent to Mensch said: "We are Anonymous and we do not like rude c**** like you and your nouveau riche husband Peter Mensch. We are inside your computer, all your phones everywhere and inside your homes.

"So get off Twitter. We see you are still on Twitter.

"We have sent a camera crew to photograph you and your kids and we will post it over the net including Twitter, c***face. You now have Sophie's Choice: which kid is to go. One will. Count on it c***. Have a nice day."

Zimmerman has also had a restraining order forbidding him from contacting other people including Lord Sugar. However he maintains his innocence saying hackers must have hijacked his account to send the email. His solicitor said he is considering an appeal.