Was British Court Right to Sentence 2 Youths for Supporting Violence Based on Their Facebook Pages?
- Posted on October 18, 2011 at 1:18pm by
Becket Adams
- Print »
- Email »
Image: Cheshire Police
Remember those UK riots that broke out a few months ago? You probably do.
After things settled down and the marauding youths went home, British authorities made a point of rounding up as many people as they could who were suspected of either participating in the riots or helping to incite them.
One of the methods used by the police to acquire leads on potential suspects was to monitor Facebook updates and posts. They also used facial-recognition technology to hunt down several of the looters and those responsible for the destruction of property.
In one case, British authorities followed leads provided by the social networking site to the homes of Jordan Blackshaw and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan who had both created Facebook pages supporting the riotous violence.
They were both arrested, appeared in court and were sentenced to four years in jail for their participation in the riots.
One of the slight issues with the court ruling? Their Facebook pages didn’t actually attract anyone or cause any violence.
Since their imprisonment, they have appealed to the courts to overturn their sentences.
Both of their appeals have been rejected.
The journal.ie reports:
Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, were each sentenced to four years in jail by a judge at Chester crown court for their role in inciting violence through Facebook.
Blackshaw had created an event called ‘Smash Dwn [sic] in Northwich Town’, while Sutcliffe-Keenan created a page called ‘The Warrington Riots’ – which he said he deleted a matter of hours later.
Lawyers for the pair argued that the four year sentences they had been handed down were “manifestly excessive”, reports the BBC.
Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London upheld the terms handed down, saying that the men had used technology for a crime. “What both these appellants intended was to cause very serious crime.
All this was incited at a time of sustained countrywide mayhem,” he said.
Lord Judge said that the imposition of such “severe sentences” were “intended to provide both punishment and deterrence.”
Before their original sentencing, Blackshaw pleaded guilty to encouraging others to commit riot, burglary and criminal damage in Northwich, while Sutcliffe-Keenan pleaded guilty to encouraging others to commit riot in Latchford near Warrington.
Back when the arrests were originally made, The Daily Telegraph quoted the presiding judge who commended local police for their quick actions, and for monitoring Facebook to keep up with developments.
After the sentences were handed down, the local assistant chief constable said the court’s action “sends a strong message to potential troublemakers about the extent to which ordinary people value safety and order in their lives and their communities,” reports the journal.ie.
However, courts all across the UK have been criticized for what many see as “draconian punishments” for “relatively minor offenses.”
Considering the fact that the Facebook pages created by both Sutcliffe-Keenan and Blackshaw didn’t actually attract a riot or cause violence, do you think the sentences were excessive?
Or is that the type of response necessary to deter future riotous behavior?
Comments (17)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 589 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Roni
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 9:28pmIt doesn’t really matter whether we believe the FB pages of these two idiots attracted an audience or not. The only facts that really matter are the facts the authorities had that convinced Blackshaw to plead guilty to encouraging others to commit riot, burglary and criminal damage in Northwich, while Sutcliffe-Keenan pleaded guilty to encouraging others to commit riot in Latchford near Warrington. It’s very hard to win an appeal in any country, after you’ve plead guilty to the crimes.
Report Post »Tepeyac
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 5:24pmComing soon in a U.S. court near you!!
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 10:58amThis is Britain we’re talking about… there is absolutely no reason whatever to even imagine there’d be some kind of sensible ruling from their courts. Orwell was British and saw what his country had become in his lifetime, and what the world would be like, esecially under british rule.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:58pmTypical reaction of a quasi fascist state too cowardly to deal with actual criminals. Britain loves to clamp down on free speech and blame it for all the ills of society Britain will not punish.
Report Post »db321
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:11pmLooks like you caught the Useful Idiots – what about the ones that planned and benefited from the Protest.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:01pmWhat about the ones in the streets commiting real violence. Ummm?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:46pmIn England… this should be Treason punished by begin Drawn & Quartered; Henry VIII made the punishment Death for walking on the grass!
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:56pmSociety is to blame. So maybe British society should be executed, before it commits suicide.
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:36pmFacebook has a way of getting stupid people in trouble!
Report Post »kellied
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:13pmI think in a way it was excessive. If they want to stop this from happening, they should put the proper law in place. The people should know what will happen if they break the law…. Then you can’t claim oh! poor poor me!!! I don’t think they should pick out a couple of people to make examples of.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 5:11pmSo tell me what is excessive ?
Report Post »What would you say if it was you and your family that lost everything they had because it was burned down ?
Or how bout one of your kids injured by rocks or what ever ?
Rocks kill too!
They as far as I am concerned they got off lucky these hooded cowards need to be shot !
hidden_lion
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:04pmAs there actions did not in fact cause said destruction, how can they be sentenced as if it had? If someone acted on the postings then that would be different. They have been sentenced for speech, that is it.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:02pmThat is what is called inciting a riot.
Report Post »And guess what , there was a riot !
Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:06pmI am a staunch defender of free speech so in America I would demand evidence of criminal intent before I would support prosecution of these young men. Britain does not have the same level of free speech protection so under their law the sentence may be appropriate. The danger of prosecuting people over stuff like this is that the Left will always try to maneuver speech restrictions to silence their opponents.
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 3:36pmYou have the right to call some one an anal opening head, or jerk, or what ever…You do not have the right to incite a riot and cause chaos and harm to your fellow humans..
Report Post »LETJOYANDINNOCENCEPREVAIL
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 4:32pmEven potential immigrants are questioned about their activity in their home countries – if they’ve ever incited violence. According to the immigration office, no alien can legally immigrate if they’ve incited violence. They would be turned down for a green card. That’s pretty serious business.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:06pmNo violence was in fact incited. So your argument doesn’t hold up. That is like you discussing how you would rob a bank and then the feds arresting you for robbing the bank, even though you never actually did it.
Report Post »