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2 clusters · 5 sources · 4 days · First seen · Last updated
Legal case of Stephen Gray regarding social media posts
Overview
Stephen Gray, a 65-year-old retired police officer from County Durham, has been convicted and fined for making ‘grossly offensive’ posts on Facebook under the Communications Act 2003.
The conviction followed a neighbor’s report regarding two specific posts. While a district judge acquitted Gray of the first post, which contained satirical commentary on migrants, 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 via the Victims’ Right to Review scheme after the Crown Prosecution Service initially declined to prosecute. Gray, who argues the posts were intended as satire, has expressed concerns that the ruling represents a return of blasphemy laws through the back door. Supported by the Free Speech Union, Gray is appealing the conviction and a fine of over £1,000.
Entities
Stephen Gray · Cleveland Police · County Durham · Free Speech Union · Crown Prosecution Service
Timeline
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23 days ago
[CRIME] 2 sourcesRetired British police officer fined for social media postsRetired British police officer Stephen Gray was fined and convicted for a social media post ruled ‘grossly offensive’ regarding Islamic religious history, sparking debate over free speech laws.
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26 days ago
[CRIME] 3 sourcesStephen Gray appeals conviction over offensive social media postsRetired police officer Stephen Gray is appealing a conviction for sharing “grossly offensive” Facebook posts, sparking debates over freedom of speech and the return of blasphemy laws in the UK.
Sources
breitbart.com · schoolgen.co.nz · thenationalpulse.com · timworstall.com · transpavement.com