Man jailed for 'burn in hell' emails to MP

Jess Phillips has previously spoken about receiving an increase in personal abuse as an MP

A man who prosecutors said sent MP Jess Phillips abusive emails, with one telling her "hell is real and you will burn" after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war, has been jailed for three months.

Nabil Arif, 36, from Birmingham, sent correspondence to the Birmingham Yardley Labour MP between 13 October and 20 February.

Ms Phillips said the abuse changed her life immeasurably as she feared physical harm from him.

Arif was convicted of sending by public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

His last email to the MP on 20 February described her as "pathetic" and threatened that she would "burn until her skin is no more" which prompted her to report the offence to the police the next day, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

They added Arif, from Warwick Road, was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody on Monday following a trial at the same court on 29 July.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order barring him from contacting the MP until further notice.

'Limited my freedom'

In her victim impact statement, Ms Phillips expressed fear that Arif’s aggression towards her might escalate and potentially lead to her coming to physical harm at his hands, the CPS said.

The abuse “limited my freedom and my ability to do my job closely with the public as I used to do", she said.

Richard Purchase of the CPS said: “Members of Parliament have a right to perform their duties and represent their constituents without being subjected to derogatory messages that cause alarm and distress.

"It is clear that Nabil Arif’s behaviour escalated from the initial emails, leading Ms Phillips to fear for her safety."

Ms Phillips has previously spoken about a rise in the amount of personal abuse she has been subjected to as an MP.

In November she quit the Labour party front bench over a ceasefire vote on Gaza.