Pensioner sent vile threats and sick abuse to politicians

David Hall, from Wolverhampton, also wrote to his constituency MP Eleanor Smith saying she should be put on ‘the first banana boat back to the jungle’ after critical comments she made last year about the Black Country flag.

He added that Enoch Powell was ‘dead right’ in his Rivers of Blood speech in 1968 when he warned that the streets of Britain would run with blood.

“You have brought that reality one step nearer with your vile, racist rantings,” he wrote.

The 72-year-old UKIP supporter told David Lammy in an email: “I would like to give you a friendly warning.

"As you attack the White population of Britain in your aims to gain Black Supremacy in this country, remember what happened to Jo Cox.

“I am not one of them, but there are those out there who would like to see you suffer the same fate. Be careful!!”

Hall’s rantings were sparked by a parliamentary debate on an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill last December.

The next day day, he wrote to Brexit rebels Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen, Dominic Grieve and Nicky Morgan, attaching an image of a noose and telling them: “You deserve to be hung for your attack on our democracy.”

Calling them ‘British traitors’, he accused them of treachery and hoped they would ‘burn in hell for eternity’.

Hall, of Windsor Gardens, Castlecroft, pleaded guilty at Walsall Magistrates Court today to six charges of sending grossly offensive and menacing messages to the politicians by means of a public electronic communications network.

He was handed a nine-week prison sentence suspended for a year and ordered to pay £735 costs. Hall was also ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation work.

Ms Morgan and Mr Lammy attended the court, prepared to give evidence if Hall denied the offences.

The email to Ms Smith preceded the others and was sparked by her remarks that the new Black Country flag’s chain imagery had racist connotations because of its association with slavery. He wrote: “How dare you!!!!! As a Labour/Communist and racist you come to my country and attack our customs, and even the identity of ‘our’ flag!!! I think that you must have enraged every single white person in ‘my’ town!!!!!!!!!!

“You must have your arse kicked out of power and be put on the first banana boat back to the jungle clearing you came from.”

Outside the court Ms Morgan, former education secretary, said: “Obviously it’s a frightening thing. There’s a moment when you think ‘have I just read what I think I’ve read’.

“As hardened politicians, we’re used to being challenged but there’s something that isn’t quite right when people think it’s acceptable – in any walk of life, to anyone – to make threats of violence or death.”

Mr Lammy said: “What he did was an abhorrent and wicked thing to do and he is lucky that he got off with a suspended sentence and isn’t going to prison.”

Eleanor Smith tweeted after the case: “David Hall pleaded guilty to sending offensive and threatening messages to me and other MPs. He avoided prison. I am glad he’s getting the rehabilitation he needs, but it should be clear to anyone who does this that there will be consequences.”

Nicky Morgan also tweeted: "Thank you to @WMPolice & @cpsuk for prosecuting this case - MPs should be subject to robust debate & challenge but not threats of violence & death designed to intimidate.

"Also want to pay tribute to the 5 staff members from MPs offices who were prepared to give evidence today."

The court heard that Hall had one previous caution in 2011 for using threatening words and behaviour.

Mr Adil Khan, defending, said Hall had got rid of his computer and no longer had any interest in politics.

He had felt he had the right to criticise MPs but never physically intended to harm them.

He had not realised the consequences of his actions, now believing he had made a ‘big mistake’.

Hall declined to comment afterwards.