13 April (Part 1) - It’s official, asking a rhetorical question and including the ‘C’ word is a crime
I had assumed that by the time I got home from Bexley Magistrates’ Court, Twitter
would be alive with the news that Olly Cromwell was found guilty under Section 127 of
the Telecommunications Act 2003 of Tweeting a grossly offensive and menacing
comment; but it appears not. As soon as time permits I shall
provide a formal report on the proceedings and then another on possible consequences.
The District Judge allowed bail and referred Olly to Bromley Court for sentencing and
pre-sentence reports. The view of those more used to
court proceedings than I am said this was a likely precursor to a custodial sentence.
However Olly's barrister has stepped in and demanded an appeal hearing as soon as
possible. This I understand will happen and will be at Woolwich Crown Court.
I left the scene just before 3 p.m. as Olly was taken away by his barrister
for another meeting. She was clearly as shocked by the verdict as everyone else
- except, that is, for a bunch of four or five thugs who surrounded me shouting
much the same obscenities used by Olly, jabbing their fingers towards my face
and demanding why I was supporting someone who advocated posting dog faeces through letter boxes.
I tried to explain no one would support such behaviour but that Olly
had done no such thing. “Actual shit” is unfortunately the modern vernacular for all
sorts of rubbish. However these people were not intelligent people with any degree of debating
skill. Their modus-operandi was limited to an amazing
frequency of ‘F’ words and threatening gestures. I asked who they were and they said they
were councillor Melvin Seymour’s friends. You know a man by the company he keeps.