Abusive e-mail sender is fined for MP attacks (From Wharfedale Observer)

Abusive e-mail sender is fined for MP attacks

2:59pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Observer reporter

A man who sent abusive e-mails to Horsforth and Aireborough MP Stuart Andrew after the politician was attacked in Westminster has been fined £110 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Nicholas Scales, 41, has also been given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the MP directly or indirectly for 12 months.

Scales, who called the Conservative MP a “queer mammies boy” and told him he should “stop wasting police time”, was sentenced at Leeds Magistrates’ Court last week.

The crude and abusive e-mails were sent after Mr Andrew was headbutted by another MP in Westminster.

In one of his hate-filled missives, Scales said: “The sooner the IRA restarts and bombs your conference again the better.”

He also suggested the politician should go out in Leeds and Bradford to “toughen up”.

The court heard how Scales, of Upper Hale Road in Farnham, Surrey, sent the e-mail to Mr Andrew’s constituency office in Leeds.

It arrived three days after the MP was attacked by Eric Joyce, the Labour Member for Falkirk, in the House of Commons’ Strangers Bar in February.

Scales, who pleaded guilty to sending a malicious communication, was not working and has mental health issues.

Mr Andrew was left with a bloody nose and concussion after being headbutted in the fracas in the House of Commons bar.

Witnesses said Mr Joyce, 51, lashed out after complaining there were too many Conservatives in the bar.

In March, Joyce was fined £3,000 by magistrates and ordered to pay £1,400 to victims after admitting four charges of assault against politicians at the Strangers Bar, including Mr Andrew.

He was also given a 12-month community order, banning him from entering pubs and licensed premises for three months, and a curfew order.

Mr Andrew has said he would not “harbour any grudge” against Mr Joyce.

He declined to comment about the latest court case.