A man who left offensive voicemails about Covid-19 restrictions on a Conservative MP’s phone has been given a suspended sentence.
Shaun Harris, 51, from Nest Farm Crescent, Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, left the messages for local MP Peter Bone.
Last week he admitted to three malicious communications offenses in Northampton Magistrates’ Court.
Harris was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
He also received a six-month mental health requirement.
Deputy Chief Justice Tanweer Ikram also made him the subject of an injunction, ordering him not to contact Mr Bone or visit the MP’s constituency office for two years.
The court heard he was “concerned” about the government’s Plan B Covid restrictions as he was out of work.
Harris left the voicemails in the early hours of December 13, which were diverted to someone else’s cell phone.
Prosecutor Sukhy Basi read one of the messages to the court, which said: “If you put any restrictions on us again, we’ll come down and sort you out.
“You stop doing what you’re doing or we’re going to war with you.”
The judges also heard that the voicemails contained a number of threats and strong language directed at Mr Bone.
Harris had been out of work for a year when the government introduced its Plan B restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, the court was told.
The court heard he had 13 prior convictions for 20 offenses, including sending abusive messages to two women in 2018.
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