'BNP text threat' man spared jail

| Wednesday, 15 September 2004 | Click here for original article

A man who admitted sending an abusive message to a "mole" who helped expose the activities of the British National Party has been spared a prison term.

Jeremy Oakley, from Dewsbury, had been warned he could be jailed for sending the text to Andrew Sykes, who took part in the BBC's Secret Agent programme.

The message, sent in July, read: "Watch your mail you scum. Boom. From C18."

Oakley, 40, of Thornhill, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and told to pay £100 compensation.

Second message

Magistrate Clifford Bromley told Oakley he had been spared jail because of his genuine remorse and guilty plea.

He had pleaded guilty during an earlier hearing at Batley and Dewsbury Magistrates' Court to sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress.

On Wednesday, the court was told Oakley had sent the message on 25 July, causing Mr Sykes to fear for his safety and that of his family.

Magistrates heard that another man had been cautioned for the same offence after sending a message to Mr Sykes saying: "You are dead. C18."

Drink problem

The court was told that C18 referred to Combat 18, an extreme far right organisation.

Oakley's lawyer Paul Blanchard said his client had never been a member of that group or the BNP and had been drunk when he committed the offence.

Mr Bromley told him: "This offence was obviously committed whilst in drink. Drink is not an excuse but quite obviously you need help with that problem to stop offending in the future.

"Although custody was an option it is not appropriate," he added.