Telford man sentenced over anti-Semitic messages

Elliot Jackson, 31, was arrested on Tuesday after police were alerted to anti-Semitic messages

A man has been handed a suspended jail sentence over anti-Semitic messages.

Elliot Jackson, 31, of Dinthill in Telford, pleaded guilty on Thursday to sending malicious communications.

At Kidderminster Magistrates' Court, he was given a 12-week sentence suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to undertake a rehabilitation course for his actions that police described as a hate crime with the potential to devastate victims.

The West Mercia force said the offending came to light via "commentary on social media about anti-Semitic messages".

Det Sgt Chris Henry said the force took all reports of hate crime "very seriously" and welcomed the sentence for Jackson's "unacceptable behaviour".

"No-one should feel targeted for what they believe, or for being themselves, and we can never underestimate the devastating effect being a victim of a hate crime can have on people," he said.

"We encourage people to make these reports and are pleased with the speed at which we have been able to deal with this incident."