Soldier in court over racist Facebook post

BBC News and the Daily Mirror report on the court appearance of a soldier charged with improper use of a communications network after he posted a racially abusive message on Facebook about Mikaeel Kular, the three year old found dead in Fife last month.

Grenadier Guardsman Warren Butler, 19, wrote on Facebook “F****** LOL to that P*** found dead. One down many more to go”

Butler admitted improper use of a communications network at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and was told he was “at risk of receiving a custodial sentence” for his actions.

The soldier’s racist remarks will likely add further pressure on the Ministry of Defence to tackle membership of far right groups by serving soldiers. Questions were raised in Parliament last summer, following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby and an incident involving alleged support for the English Defence League by a member of HM Armed Forces.