No-show Twitter troll faces arrest;Threatened MP's family + FB releasing troll ips

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/sentence-no-show-troll-faces-arrest-165311882.html

Sentence no-show troll faces arrest

Press Association

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a 60-year-old man who sent a threatening email to Conservative MP Louise Mensch after he failed to turn up at court.
Internet troll Frank Zimmerman was due to be sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court in Gloucestershire on Thursday afternoon.
He had targeted the MP for Corby, Northamptonshire, last year telling her to stop using the social networking site Twitter or face the consequences.
The agoraphobic, who lives in a run-down house in Barnwood, Gloucester, told Mrs Mensch that she faced a "Sophie's Choice" - a reference to a novel in which heroine Sophie has to choose between the life of her son or daughter at a Nazi concentration camp.
Zimmerman was charged with an offence of sending by public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene, menacing message or matter.
At a hearing at Gloucester Magistrates' Court in April, he was found guilty in his absence, having failed to attend on that occasion, blaming his agoraphobia and depression.
He attended court last month for sentencing but a district judge adjourned the case until Thursday so that a pre-sentence report could be completed.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said of the scheduled hearing: "Zimmerman did not appear, and a warrant for failing to surrender to bail was issued by the court, for him to be arrested and brought before the court at the earliest opportunity. The court declined to pass sentence in his absence."

Following the email dated August 22 last year, the 40-year-old MP, who has more than 58,000 followers on Twitter, immediately called in the police and arranged security for her family.
The offensive email was later traced to the IP address of Zimmerman's home computer. Zimmerman denied sending it, saying his computer had been hacked.
=========

Funny how they all say that when they're caught, isn't it?

Funny how many of them appear to be agoraphobic.

Funny how many of them actually look like trolls:



A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said of this afternoon's scheduled hearing: 'Zimmerman did not appear, and a warrant for failing to surrender to bail was issued by the court, for him to be arrested and brought before the court at the earliest opportunity.
'The court declined to pass sentence in his absence.'
Zimmerman's email, dated August 22 last year, read: 'Subject: You have been HACKED
'Louise Mensch, nee Bagshawe, the slut of Twitter. We are Anonymous and we don't like rude c**** like you and your nouveau riche husband Peter Mensch. You have been hacked!
'We are inside your computer and 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 will post it all over the net, including Twitter. C***face.
'You now have a Sophie's Choice. Which kid is to go? One will, count on it c***. Have a nice day. From all of us at MIT 617-253-1000.'
The 40-year-old MP, who has more than 58,000 followers on Twitter, immediately called in the police and arranged security for her family.
Unbowed, she went on to tweet to followers: 'Had some morons threaten my children by email. To those who sent it: get stuffed losers.'
The offensive email was later traced to the IP address of Zimmerman's home computer.
Zimmerman denied sending it, saying his computer had been hacked.
He told the court at last month's appearance that he had no way of getting to today's sentencing, saying: 'I am not physically capable of walking and I have no money. I have no money; I simply cannot afford to eat.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156031/Twitter-troll-run-60-year-old-threatened-Tory-MP-Louise-Mensch-Sophies-Choice-lives-children-fails-turn-sentenced.html#ixzz1x93pZxQM

Not so brave now, is he? I guess the fun went out of using foul language and threatening children when he got caught.

Never mind, he'll save a bit of money if he cancels his broadband, won't he?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-18351855

Facebook to release ID of users who abused woman online


A woman who was abused on the internet has won court backing in her bid to gain the identities of those who targeted her.

Nicola Brookes, from Brighton, was falsely portrayed as a paedophile and drug dealer by internet trolls.

She has been granted a High Court order asking Facebook to reveal the IP addresses of people who had abused her so she can prosecute them.

Facebook has said there is no place for harassment on the site.

Ms Brookes said the abuse started after she posted a supportive message about X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza.

She said she suffered a barrage of abuse and one online bully created a fake profile in her name, which was used to send explicit messages to girls.

According to her solicitor, Rupinder Bains, trolls published her address and followed her on to other forums, including a recipe forum, to continue the abuse.

"Nicola is housebound so she uses social networking very frequently," she said.

"It's always there - it's doesn't matter what she does, they are everywhere she is."

Ms Bains said Facebook did not contest the order.

The website would have been in breach of data protection laws if it had handed over IP details without a court order.

Ms Bains said: "In order to obtain it there's quite a high threshold that we have to meet.

"Basically we need to show it's in the interests of justice... we need to prove the third party, namely Facebook, isn't just a mere witness but is in fact involved in the wrongdoing, albeit innocently, but they are involved.

"We were able to meet that criteria and hence the order was granted."

'Legal obligations'
Facebook confirmed it would hand over the IP addresses and basic subscriber information requested in the order.

As the subscriber information might not be correct, it would up to Ms Brookes to obtain a further court order to compel internet service provides to reveal which people the IP addresses are connected to.

She would then be able to launch legal action.

A spokesman for Facebook said: "There is no place for harassment on Facebook, but unfortunately a small minority of malicious individuals exist online, just as they do offline.

"We respect our legal obligations and work with law enforcement to ensure that such people are brought to justice.

============

I can think of a few forkers who should be very, very worried right now - like the fake doctor, and ZoeMidasRothley hydra. Oh, and 'snap your neck' Spudgun.

The net is closing both in legal and journalistic terms on some of these trolls. Time will reveal quite a few more for their online thuggery and filthy-mouthed abuse.

Those morons who believe that online abuse is clever and especially those who are desperate to remain ANONYMOUS because of their vile behavious, are going to get quite a shock.

Hiding your twitter accounts as (for example @elementaryforce has done will not provide ANY shelter from either publicity or the law.

Earlier today there was a segment on internet trolls on BBC News showing an interview with a teenager who had been stalked by people wishing her ill, to kill herself or someone would do it for her. She ended up having to move to the other side of the country. Her father has set up a helpline http://www.cybersmile.org/

This is the story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-17299736

LL

ETA The girl at the end of the segment said she had wiped her Facebook as she was getting bored!

I think in part it is the effect on and example to children of these online abusers and thugs which will mean it becomes difficult for the authorities to avoid stricter laws.

Another story I spotted tweeted earlier was this.



http://www.tvguide.com/News/Sherri-Shepherd-Police-Report-Twitter-Threat-1048619.aspx

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Sherri-Shepherd-Police-Report-Twitter-Threat-1048619.aspx

Good for her!

If a good few of the twitter haters aren't worried, well, they should be.

A wonderful video dedicated to trolls and haters everywhere - sounds like they know all about LaffinThug and the gang



ETA link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz2jbCJXkpA&feature=youtu.be

They must have seen pictures of LaffinThug and the rest of the haters...

Thank God that the rest of The World is catching on to what we have been doing for the last three years.

IMO, it's just a matter of time before a few other of the McCann-haters get the same treatment as Laffin, Sabot. The pretendy doc for one, and Zoe -Midas-Pillow, of the many heads, is another.

bb1 wrote:IMO, it's just a matter of time before a few other of the McCann-haters get the same treatment as Laffin, Sabot. The pretendy doc for one, and Zoe -Midas-Pillow, of the many heads, is another.

Well someone on MM did ask why we aren't making YouTube Videos. Time to start methinks. User Names don't necessarily have to be mentioned. Just their comments would do for starters. Although I can't think of a reason for why names shouldn't be included. They are saying these things.

Perhaps we could have a Thread for their horrible remarks.

Thread? There are entire forums and blogs keeping tracks of their vileness

Best not to waste our time in the YouTube business - I am sure the media and the police will deal with them far more effectively than we ever could

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156365/Nicola-Brookes-victim-internet-trolls-wins-High-Court-backing-reveal-identities-targeted-her.html

Victory over cyber bullies: Legal first as High Court orders Facebook to reveal mother's tormentors

Nicola Brookes, 45, was targeted by internet trolls after posting message of support for X-Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza
The mother, who doesn't even watch X-Factor, wrote message supporting singer on his official Facebook page after her daughter showed her his page
Abusers created fake profile with her picture and posted sick messages to lure young girls
The single mother is the first person ever to bring a court case privately to track down those who abused her
She was forced to take action after police refused to intervene
Despite the abuse, Nicola is STILL on Facebook

By Vanessa Allen

A mother who was sent death threats by so-called internet ‘trolls’ has won a landmark legal case against Facebook.

Nicola Brookes was tormented for months by anonymous internet bullies after she left an innocent message of support for an X Factor contestant on the social networking site.

She went to police to make a complaint but claimed officers told her to go home.



Months of torment: Nicola Brookes was targeted by internet trolls after she messaged her support for X Factor star Frankie Cocozza


Now she has won a legal order forcing Facebook to disclose the identities of the trolls. It is the first time an individual has won such an order and Miss Brookes, 45, hopes to pursue private prosecutions against those responsible for her months of ‘vicious and depraved’ abuse.

Charities said the High Court ruling sent a message to the cyber bullies that their anonymity can be stripped away, leaving them open to prosecution.
Campaigners warned that online bullying has become the ‘weapon of choice’ among children and teenagers, with police and prosecutors failing to keep pace with the changes in technology.


How it started: Nicola's support for X Factor's Frankie Cocozza led to a horrid hate-campaign against her


Miss Brookes’s ordeal began last November when her daughter told her that an X Factor contestant, Frankie Cocozza, had received hate mail on Facebook. Stung by the cruelty, the mother left a message on his Facebook page, saying simply: ‘Keep your chin up, Frankie, they’ll move on to someone else soon.’


Within minutes bullies on the site turned on her, writing vile abuse including ‘Your [sic] a desperate pedo b****’ and ‘Ur [sic] a ****ing dog’. More than 100 cruel messages were left in just 24 hours. Miss Brookes said: ‘Facebook users began deliberately targeting me, writing under my comment that I was a paedophile and hoping that I would die.’

Worse followed when an online bully set up a fake Facebook profile in Miss Brookes’ name, with her photo and personal email address, and used it to send explicit messages to thousands of children, some as young as nine.

Some messages falsely described her as a drug dealer, a prostitute and a paedophile and known child abuser, and others attempted to ‘befriend’ young girls.

On Mother’s Day this year, trolls published the single mother’s home address in Brighton.

Horrified, she reported the abuse to Facebook and the police, but said officers did nothing to help her. She said one officer told her she could leave a dossier of evidence ‘but we won’t read it’.

Frustrated by their response Miss Brookes contacted lawyers and began legal action to force Facebook to reveal details about her anonymous tormentors.

Last week the High Court granted an order compelling the site to disclose the bullies’ names, email addresses and their computers’ internet protocol (IP) addresses, which can be used to determine a computer’s location.

Miss Brookes said: ‘These abusers are not just random people who have nothing better to do with their time.

‘These are organised people who have been operating on Facebook for years.

‘I’m going for the strongest possible prosecution against these people. I want them exposed.’

Last month, a survey found that just over half of all internet users have received abuse online or by text message. Only a minority report the abuse to police as many believe it will not be taken seriously.



Jibes: Nicola Brookes has her picture posted on Facebook - and someone suggests she has been sending round pictures of child abuse



Offensive: Some more of the abuse that went on Facebook. This page formed part of the evidence that Nicola's solicitors presented to the High Court


Prosecutions under the Malicious Communications Act, which makes it illegal to send grossly offensive messages, have increased three-fold since 2004. There were almost 900 such prosecutions last year but prosecutors accept that only a minority of trolls are brought to justice.

Miss Brookes has remained on Facebook despite the abuse and said she was determined not to be bullied into quitting the site.

Her legal action would have cost her up to £5,000 but her solicitors Bains Cohen agreed to take the case for free because of her horrific treatment. Lawyer Rupinder Bains said Facebook had not contested the action and had agreed to hand over the information within six weeks.

Four individuals were believed to have led the abuse against Miss Brookes and her lawyers will consider private prosecutions against them. If their Facebook accounts were set up using fake names and email addresses, lawyers will have to return to court and win similar orders against the trolls’ internet service providers, to get the bill-payers’ addresses.



Rise of the sick internet trolls


Vile: Ms Brookes shows off print outs of some of the abuse she suffered online at the hands of tormenters




Abuse: A false Facebook page that was set-up for Nicola Brookes by the cyber bullies

Mr Bains said: ‘It should have been the police’s job to get these details from Facebook but they have completely failed in their responsibility to do that.’

Facebook said it reveals its users’ names and email addresses only if a court orders it to do so. A spokesman said: ‘There is no place for harassment on Facebook, but unfortunately a small minority of malicious individuals exist online, just as they do offline. We respect our legal obligations and work with law enforcement to ensure such people are brought to justice.’

Suzie Hayman, of Bullying UK, said: ‘Bullies hide behind the anonymity of the internet and they should not be able to do so. You can’t be anonymous if you say something hurtful in the office or the schoolyard and people need to learn you can’t be anonymous on the internet either.’

Sussex Police said they had asked Facebook to remove any abusive posts about Miss Brookes and insisted they were investigating the case.

A spokesman said: ‘We need to gather evidence to prove who the person is for a successful prosecution to take place.’


Insults: Here someone posted Nicola's home address in Brighton where she lives alone (left) while 'Cuthbert Bollingsworth-Smythe' posts more offensive messages


Horrendous: Yet more offensive messages directed at Nicola Brookes are posted on this page

Many thanks, Rose

Miss Brookes said: ‘These abusers are not just random people who have nothing better to do with their time.

‘These are organised people who have been operating on Facebook for years.

‘I’m going for the strongest possible prosecution against these people. I want them exposed.’

Reading the abuse she has been subjected to, it is striking how similar it is to the abuse from the McCann-hating trolls.

IMO, some of them should be a little bit worried about what they have been up to on the internet.

Also, thanks to her old friend Bennett, Zoe-Midas-Pillow of the many names (each one foul-mouthed) is rather high-profile; I wouldn't be at all surprised if the likes of her and the fake doctor don't get the Laffin treatment from the tabloids one of these days.

Bluemosis ‏@Bluemosis
@SafariSara A troll is someone who disrupts normal on-topic discussion. Something that you know all about. #mccann

The haters don't even know what a troll is, do they? Guess they don't know why they tick all the boxes, either.

Internet troll, 60, spared jail after threatening Tory MP Louise Mensch with a 'Sophie's Choice' over the lives of her children
Frank Zimmerman contacted Tory MP telling her to choose one of her children
Banned from contacting Mensch and other high-profile people
Zimmerman went to court in custody after failing to turn up to previous hearings
Handed a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years
By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON
PUBLISHED: 15:38, 11 June 2012 | UPDATED: 17:42, 11 June 2012
Comments (24)
Share

An internet 'troll' who sent a threatening email to a Conservative MP was banned today from contacting a host of celebrities - including Lord Sugar.
Frank Zimmerman avoided jail by a whisker when a district judge suspended a 26-week prison sentence for two years after he sent an offensive email to Corby MP Louise Mensch.
The bearded 60-year-old, who was taken to court by police today after being arrested for failing to attend his sentencing last week, was given the suspended sentence, ordered to pay costs and made subject of a restraining order.




Agoraphobic Frank Zimmerman was today spared jail as he was sentenced for 'trolling' Louise Mensch


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157690/Louise-Mensch-internet-troll-Frank-Zimmerman-spared-jail-vile-tweets.html#ixzz1xWjngvWW

Suspended sentence, is it? He'll do it again, thinking he can hide behind a proxy.

What a surprise! He's another one who plays the victim when the law catches up with him:

Before Zimmerman was released, he asked the judge: 'May I ask how I am able to get home? I have no money.'
The judge said he did not have any duty to get him home and added: 'You have had plenty of time to organise your finances.'
As he left the dock, Zimmerman said: 'I thank you for your time.'
Previously, Zimmerman told the court that he does not have enough money to even eat.
'I have no means of getting home,' he said.
'I am not physically capable of walking and I have no money. I have no money. I simply cannot afford to eat.
'I still have a vestige of pride. I do not have enough money to eat continually for four weeks every month, so every month I don't eat for seven days.
'It is 11 days since I had anything to eat.
'There is no way that I can afford a taxi to Cheltenham and back.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157690/Louise-Mensch-internet-troll-Frank-Zimmerman-spared-jail-vile-tweets.html#ixzz1xWl0AuoE

Funny how he could afford his broadband, isn't it? Good to see the judge treated him with the contempt he deserves.

I've never heard such rubbish in all my life. Social Security may not run to luxury living but it's enough to get by on, even after paying for Broad Band.

Here's something for the hatertrolls to think over - people are sick to death of the lot of them. Including lawyers:

http://www.bainscohen.com/bains-cohen-takes-on-first-ever-private-prosecution-of-internet-trolls

Bains Cohen Takes On First Ever Private Prosecution of
Internet Trolls

As a specialist internet defamation solicitors firm and together with legal PR consultancy firm, Byfield Consultancy, we made the decision to team-up to support the first private prosecution brought by an individual (Nicola Brookes) against internet trolls.

The case of Nicola Brookes

In November last year, we were approached by Nicola Brookes, a single mother who suffers from chronic Crohn’s disease. Nicola found herself on the receiving end of extremely abusive comments on Facebook, after sending a supporting comment to Frankie Coccoza when he left the X Factor last year.

The abuse was vile and unwarranted to the extent that anonymous internet trolls set up a fake Facebook profile account in Nicola’s name and image to post indecent comments and lure young girls. Nicola contacted the police and was informed that there was nothing that could actually be done. After getting involved, we contacted Facebook on several occasions and the fake profile page that was set up in Ms Brookes’ name was successfully taken down. However, this was not the end of Nicola’s suffering. The abusive communications have now got to the stage of the trolls disclosing her personal address and making lewd comments towards her daughter. Again the police were contacted – this time by the firm and whilst the inspector agreed to meet with her, the most that came out of this meeting was the offer of panic alarms in her home. It was clear that, unfortunately, Nicola’s local Police had no idea what to do.

Both Byfield Consultancy and us made the decision to act for Nicola on a pro bono basis to try and bring these trolls to justice. Surely we cannot just allow these trolls to invade someone’s privacy and literally follow her movements on the web; leaving harassing comments on each forum that she has visited? This is precisely what is happening to Nicola now. Our case is focusing on the dangers inherent in social media sites allowing such activities to take place. If we do not take action; if we do not assist Nicola, the abuse and harassment will simply escalate and become more intrusive.

Many have commented and asked, why has Nicola simply not closed her Facebook profile to the general public and even stated that she must have done something to attract this. Nicola did nothing, other than to post a message of support. Her image was then taken and a fake Facebook profile page created. Comments about her were posted on other public forums and the trolls’ own sites. This has no connection to the status of Nicola’s Facebook profile: if only it was that simple.

The current stage in the proceedings involves an application being made for an injunction from the High Court, known as a Norwich Pharmacal Order to compel Facebook to release the IP addresses of the posters of this information, in the hope of tracing the identity of the trolls. Once this has been obtained, a private prosecution will be commenced against these people. But lawyers should not have to do this. A criminal offense has been committed and the police should be involved hunting down these perpetrators, but no such assistance is provided. We have sufficient legislation in England with the Protection From Harassment Act 1997, Communications Act 2003 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988 to deal with and punish offenders but what we are expecting from the police is that they should be able to police another planet altogether: the internet - with very little local knowledge and with tools which are not fit for purpose.

The bottle neck is clearly at the point where identities need to be revealed so the only long term solution is for the government to establish a body with some judicial powers to make it easier and cheaper for individuals or the police, to have the identity of their abusers revealed to them, for the police to have specialist divisions trained to deal with this issue and having the tools and powers to obtain identities from the likes of Facebook, and Twitter.

There is a clear anomaly in the law and the way in which internet abuse is treated and investigated by the police depending on whether the victim is in the public eye or an ordinary member of the public, like Nicola. We have taken on this case in the hope of achieving justice for Nicola and effecting a change in the system that will help other victims like her.

----------------

Excellent news - though Bennett and the gang won't like it.

Now there's a good solicitor he could use, Bonny.

A specialist internet defamation solicitors firm. After all thats what his case is about

Gosh, I've just realized. Bennett is a Troll.