Ann Maguire Twitter troll jailed

A man who admitted to posting offensive messages on Twitter about murdered teacher Ann Maguire has been jailed for eight weeks.

Robert Riley, 42, of Port Talbot, was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Thursday) over the comments.

The messages celebrated the killing of Mrs Maguire, 61, who was stabbed to death on April 28 at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds.

Riley also expressed general hatred toward teachers as a whole.

He also tweeted the name of the boy who has been charged with Mrs Maguire’s murder.

The court heard that Riley, who has some 500 followers on Twitter, had a habit of sending vile and offensive tweets.

Riley, who became emotional during the trial and was said to deeply regret his actions, was renowned for racist and offensive tweets.

Chairwoman of the bench Georgina Scannell said she was left with no choice but to send the defendant to jail.

She said: “The offensive messages outraged the public. You had complete disregard for the tragic death of Ann Maguire. Besides this, countless other vile messages were made by you.

“The bench finds these were racially and religious aggravated. The offences are so serious that only a period of immediate custody can be justified.”