Stephen Peddie, 61 (pictured), wrote the’menacing’ tweet in response on February 21, 2012, to another post from Toby Young, a social commentator, about Labour Brent MP Dawn Butler.
The offensive message was sent by a former candidate for Brexit who said that shooting Labour MPs in their backs would be “justified” and “wholly deserved”.
Stephen Peddie, 61, wrote the ‘menacing’ tweet on February 21 last year, in response to another post by social commentator Toby Young about Labour Brent MP Dawn Butler, 52.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how in his original tweet, Mr Young had accused Ms Butler of using taxpayers’ money to fit a Jacuzzi-style bath in a north London property while claiming her main home was in east London – a claim she furiously denied.
Peddie responded: “Egregious theft during a national emergency.”
“Please explain to me the reason why I should be shot in the back of my head. It is not justified.
Former Labour whip Ms Butler shared a screenshot of that tweet. She wrote, “I received the death threat with the threat of being shot to my back.”
Toby Young has been selling an ill-gotten product all along [sic]’A decade-old, false story about me to send threats to his followers, you both are SCUM.
She added Piers Morgan, the broadcaster of the Metropolitan Police Service to her post.
Deputy District Judge Briony Crocke convicted Peddie, a former senior banker and consultant in management, of sending an offensive message.
Peddie responded to Dawn Butler’s tweet: ‘Egregious theft during a national emergency. I need to know why someone shot me in the head with a gun.
She stated, “It is just a tweet from a menacing figure in my view,”
Peddie represented himself and argued that the tweet was a query rather than a threat. He also said it wasn’t directly directed at Ms. Butler.
Judge Clarke stated, “I don’t believe the defendant.”
“The tweet’s content is based on a Toby Young tweet that mentions Dawn Butler’s jacuzzi bill and food shop.
Peddie said that Tweet was ill-advised, and described the incident as a’momentary madness’ in his interview with police.
Judge Clarke stated that although there was no direct threat to Dawn Butler, Peddie’should have recognized the danger that the tweet might cause fear or apprehension for any member of public that reads it at that time’.
Peddie (pictured above) was bailed in advance of his sentence by the same court, on February 2,
She stated, “I consider the defendant guilty”
Peddie from Edenbridge in Kent appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court. He wore a blue check shirt, a yellow waistcoat and grey trousers with a navy patterned tie.
He said he plans to appeal against the verdict, and that he wanted to bring the case before the European Court of Human Rights.
On February 2, he was released from the court without any sentence.
Peddie had been a potential candidate to be a parliamentary candidate in the Kent constituency for Tonbridge and Malling in 2019, but he quit in protest against Nigel Farage’s election strategy.