Pensioner sent “vile letters” to female MP, Tasmina Ahmed-Shaikh

Categories: Latest News
Friday May 13 2016
The Shetland News reports on another case of malicious communications sent to SNP MP, Tasmina Ahmed-Shaikh.
David Crozier, 68, admitted sending messages containing offensive and abusive comments aggravated by religious prejudice between 23 May and 26 May 2015.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard this week that Ms Ahmed-Shaikh was left “frightened” by the “vile hatred” in the letters sent by Mr Crozier. Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court Ms Ahmed-Shaikh “was fearful that she may be attacked” and that while there was “no suggestion that Crozier would take things to a physical level” the Muslim politician “didn’t know that”.
Mackenzie added that while the MP was accustomed to receiving unsolicited mail, Mr Crozier’s “rambling” messages were from a “different league”.
Mr Crozier’s defence said that the pensioner wrote “obsessively to a diverse range of people on a diverse range of topics” and that his offensive communications to the MP may be the result of “psychological” issues.
Sheriff Philip Mann ordered reports to be prepared on Mr Crozier and adjourned the case until 8 June. Mr Crozier’s bail was continued.
In February, another pensioner, James Learmouth, 68, was ordered to pay a £500 fine after being convicted of sending a “grossly offensive” email communication to the SNP MP last December, ahead of the parliamentary vote on air strikes in Syria.