Retired British police officer fined for social media posts

Stephen Gray, a 65-year-old retired police officer from County Durham, has been convicted and fined following social media posts deemed ‘grossly offensive’ under the Communications Act 2003. The legal action originated from a neighbor's report regarding two Facebook posts.

Gray was acquitted of the first post, which featured satirical commentary on mass deportation and migrant amenities. However, he was convicted for a second post involving a joke about bacon and the marriage of the Islamic prophet Muhammad to a child. District Judge Steven Hood ruled that the second post was designed to be offensive and did not constitute legitimate political or religious commentary.

The prosecution proceeded only after a neighbor utilized the Victims’ Right to Review scheme, after the Crown Prosecution Service had initially declined to prosecute due to a lack of realistic prospect of conviction. Gray, who maintains the posts were intended as satire, is appealing the conviction and the fine of over £1,000.