Internet Racism sees man JAILED

[Reece]

Liam Stacey, 21, provoked revulsion with comments made while Muamba still lay on the pitch. The 23-year-old midfielder was left fighting for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham on March 17. Fans in the stadium and those viewing on live television watched in horror as Muamba fell to the ground during the quarter-final clash that was abandoned. Police were inundated with complaints as members of the public, former player Stan Collymore among them, reported the student's comments. Stacey, a Swansea University third-year biology undergraduate, was quickly tracked down and arrested. Last week, he admitted inciting racial hatred when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates' Court and yesterday he was jailed for 56 days at the same court. The first of Stacey's messages began with: "LOL (laugh out loud). **** Muamba. He's dead!!!" Offensive comments Several people took him to task for his views and he responded with a string of offensive comments aimed at other Twitter users. Muamba remains in intensive care in hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable. Stacey broke down as he was taken away in handcuffs to a holding cell beneath the court. District Judge John Charles told him: "In my view, there is no alternative to an immediate prison sentence." The court heard that, when arrested, Stacey admitted his guilt and said he had been drunk at the time. On the day in question, he had been out watching Wales' rugby Grand Slam victory and had drunk up to eight pints of beer. Gareth Jones, defending, said Stacey was completely ashamed of his behaviour. "On the night in question, his comments were vile - he admits that," Jones said. Stacey has ambitions to become a forensic scientist. That was now very unlikely, Jones said, and he would "pay dearly for the rest of his life" for what he had done. - Reuters.

Source:
TBN

Good to see that those who thing they can break the law on the internet and act big and clever, doing things they wouldn't in person, are actually being punished for their crimes.

What do you think?

[Sauron]

Check out the comments he made. I get the feeling some posters here; and some player in-game could land in jail 

[Clone]

He may have taken it too far, but he didn't deserve the punishment he got. Not only has he been sent to prison, I read he got kicked out of his university and will have a criminal record for the rest of his life. So basically, his future is ruined for some racism over the internet. Total bullshit in my eyes.

[Gandalf]

Sauron has a point. Read the comments and you will see that if British guys go to jail for this, we know a couple of future cellmates.
Liam Stacey Twitter racism against Fabrice Muamba, don't lose the evidence

[Reece]

I have no doubt that similar offenders will also be punished.

Back in the London Riots, people were also Jailed for inciting them with comments such as "Lets make a Riot _____" "Lets steal store xyz"

"Two men have been jailed for four years for using Facebook to incite disorder.

Jordan Blackshaw, 20, from Marston near Northwich, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, from Warrington, appeared at Chester crown court on Tuesday. They were arrested last week following incidents of violent disorder in London and other cities across the UK.

Neither of their Facebook posts resulted in a riot-related event.

During the sentencing, the recorder of Chester, Elgan Edwards, praised the swift actions of Cheshire police and said he hoped the sentences would act as a deterrent to others.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson said: "If we cast our minds back just a few days to last week and recall the way in which technology was used to spread incitement and bring people together to commit acts of criminality, it is easy to understand the four year sentences that were handed down in court today.

"In Cheshire, we quickly recognised the impact of the situation on our communities and the way in which social media was being used to promote and incite behaviour that would strike fear in to the hearts of our communities.

"From the offset, Cheshire constabulary adopted a robust policing approach using the information coming into the organisation to move quickly and effectively against any person whose behaviour was likely to encourage criminality. Officers took swift action against those people who have been using Facebook and other social media sites to incite disorder.

"The sentences passed down today recognise how technology can be abused to incite criminal activity, and send a strong message to potential troublemakers about the extent to which ordinary people value safety and order in their lives and their communities. Anyone who seeks to undermine that will face the full force of the law.""

[Jack Rosso]

People become aware that their anonymously posts, such as racism and threatning, will actually get taken care of by the government.. Thats good at one side, at the other side i do not agree with giving such high punishments for it.

[[NP]Monte Montague]

Multiple cases of racism have happened through online social networking websites.

Two cases.
One the muamba one - the guy was jailed.
Another racism case in UK through social networking website - community service.

[Ben.]

Even if trolling, its still shocking and absolutely disgusting.