Staffordshire man admits threatening messages offences on social media
A Staffordshire man has admitted to two offences of posting threatening messages on social media.
Richard Britton, 31, from Wombourne, has pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing or distributing threatening, abusive or insulting material between February and March 2023.
The update comes after Britton displayed anti-Islamic, racist and anti-immigration sentiments and used threatening language on his social media account.
He also shared images of weapons online and encouraged others to do the same. The account was later suspended by X (formerly Twitter).
Britton was arrested during a pre-planned operation by Staffordshire Police on April 26, 2023, and following a search of his address, weapons were discovered that matched those featured on his social media posts.
Britton initially denied the offences, however, he entered guilty pleas at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday, May 21.
Detective Superintendent Annie Miller, from the Counter Terrorism Policing unit in the West Midlands, said: "When we searched Britton’s address following his arrest, we found machetes, fireworks and material matching the images he’d posted online.
"Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the wider West Midlands area."
He will be sentenced on July 25.
