Man sentenced for leaving MP an abusive voicemail

The message was left at MP Naz Shah's constituency office in Bradford

A man who left an abusive voicemail message for Bradford West MP Naz Shah has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Thomas Mearing, 26, from Yeovil in Somerset, admitted sending the voice message to Ms Shah on 19 November 2023.

In the message, Mearing accused Ms Shah of supporting Hamas and made other derogatory comments about her, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Mearing was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to a public communications offence at Taunton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Mearing also received a five year restraining order, banning him from contacting Ms Shah or attending her constituency office.

The court heard Mearing had phoned Ms Shah's constituency office at the weekend, when the call went straight to voicemail.

It was picked up by a member of her staff the following Monday.

In a police interview, Mearing accepted leaving the voicemail but insisted it was not intended to cause alarm or distress.

He later pleaded guilty to sending an offensive communication.

Alex Herowych, prosecutor for the CPS, said: "Mearing's voicemail message was highly offensive and insulting to Ms Shah, and his comments have no place in a civilised society.

"There is a world of a difference between robust criticism – which elected representatives should expect – and hateful abuse, which neither Ms Shah nor her constituency staff should be subjected to.

"Members of Parliament are rightly protected by the same laws as everyone else, and would-be abusers should know they cannot send such vitriolic messages without repercussions."

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