27 months in prison for online troll who targeted Jews with death threats

John Nimmo, a vile antisemitic online troll has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for targeting Jews with sickening antisemitic abuse and death threats, including Jewish Labour MP, Luciana Berger.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Nimmo wrote to Berger, referring to her as “Jewish scum” and signing off as “your friend the Nazi”. He sent her images of a knife and told her she would “get it like Jo Cox”, the MP murdered by a far-right terrorist. Berger was far from being the only victim. Another victim received a message from Nimmo saying: “Watch your back you Jewish inbred, you’re dead meat,” which he signed “National Action”, referring to the antisemitic neo-Nazi terrorist group proscribed by the Home Secretary following a campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism. One female victim told police: “I didn’t know what John Nimmo would do next. I have never encountered such an evil person in my life.”

On Friday, Nimmo pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to grossly offensive, threatening and false communications. His sentence was increased on account of his convictions for previous similar offences and the racist nature of his messages.

Judge Robert Adams told Nimmo: “You caused terror and paranoia. You attacked people who were helping society in a variety of different ways. The offences were carried out from the comfort of your own home, where you thought you would never be identified while causing misery to other people.”

We commend the victims for stepping forward, and the police for their detailed investigation.