Twitter troll avoids prison after threatening Louise Mensch MP
INTERNET troll Frank Zimmerman has been given a suspended prison sentence and restraining order for life.
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Frank Zimmerman
The 61-year-old of Spinney Road, Barnwood, used the social networking site Twitter to threaten chick-lit author Louise Mensch, Conservative MP for Corby.
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District Judge Martin Brown said it was only Zimmerman's age and agoraphobia which stopped him being put behind bars.
A list of nine names, including Mrs Mensch and her husband Peter, are on the restraining order made against Zimmerman.
These include Mrs Mensch's ex-husband and father of her three children, Anthony LoCicero, Independent columnist Terence Blacker, CIA director David Howell Petraeus and Sir Michael Jackson, one of the most high profile generals in the British Army since the Second World War.
Zimmerman was convicted in his absence in April of sending "an indecent, offensive or menacing" message to Mrs Mensch, and after missing three earlier hearings, turned up at court on May 8 and failed to convince a judge the conviction should not stand.
He claimed his computer had been hacked. But the messages show he told the MP that she had to make a choice between which of her three children should die.
For the full story see tomorrow's Citizen.
Comments
by Kay_Powell
Monday, June 25 2012, 3:53PM
“There's a really well written and well thought out article on Frank Zimmerman in today's Citizen. It is a re-print from The Independent by Terence Blacker (who used to know Frank). It can be read online if you Google Terence Blacker and Frank Zimmerman”
by Bartonite
Monday, June 11 2012, 10:52PM
“It's an interesting distinction. When you Google 'fear of open spaces', the overwhelming result is 'agoraphobia', but when you Google 'agoraphobia' itself, you get 'an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety in situations where it is perceived to be difficult or embarrassing to escape'. That applies to a courtroom, and even more so to prison, I guess, so good call, Alfredo ;)”
by littleoldlady
Monday, June 11 2012, 7:41PM
“There's a lot of us would like to silence Louise Mensch, mind...”
by Sezzy66
Monday, June 11 2012, 7:30PM
“But he is not agoraphobic anyway. See him going out in his car at least a couple of times a week!”
by bonzaharris1
Monday, June 11 2012, 5:24PM
“Agoraphobia is a term that is used to describe a number of related phobias (irrational fears) that are connected to situations such as:
•leaving home
•entering shops
•being in crowds or public places
•travelling alone on buses, trains or planes
Agoraphobia can often lead to a change in behaviour where a person with the condition will avoid situations that may cause them anxiety. They may start only leaving the house with a friend or partner, or ordering groceries online rather than going to the supermarket. This change in behaviour is known as avoidance. Avoiding normal activities can lead to an individual's life becoming restricted.
You are in effect correct Alfredo, but as you can see above a nice small cell shouldn't perturb him too much. He may need a cell mate though. Pity he didn't avoid trolling !!”
by Alfredo_
Monday, June 11 2012, 5:14PM
“@Bartonite @bonzaharris Agoraphobia isn't a fear of open spaces.”
by bonzaharris1
Monday, June 11 2012, 4:52PM
“Quite Bartonite, agarophobia is a fear of open spaces, he should be happy as a pig in muck locked up in a nice small cell. As for his age, 61 isn't that old he's not even a pensioner. Sends out totally the wrong message.”
by Bartonite
Monday, June 11 2012, 4:01PM
“How is agoraphobia a reason to *not* put him in a prison cell?”