Maltby: Man sent racially aggrivated letters to Rotherham Council leaders

A Maltby man has admitted sending a ‘torrent of abusive letters’ to the leader and deputy leader of Rotherham Council.
In CourtIn Court
In Court

James Plant of Birks Holt Drive, Maltby appeared at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court today (Friday) where he admitted two charges relating to letters sent to Coun Roger Stone and Coun Jahangir Akhtar.

The court heard extracts from the letters in which Plant wrote that Coun Stone was a ‘dead man’ and that his office would ‘go up in flames,’ while he used racial insults in letters to Coun Akhtar.

Prosecutor Mark Hughes said the letters caused ‘considerable distress’ to both councillors.

He added that Plant was identified from fingerprints found on the documents.

Defence solicitor Michael Clarke said Plant was angry at the council for turning an adjacent flat to his into a ‘halfway house’ without any consultation.

He said Plant did not carry anything out after sending the letters and accepts his behaviour was ‘totally unacceptable.’

“He accepts that he should have complained to the council in the proper manner,” said Mr Clarke.

Plant pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment with fear of violence and another charge of racially aggravated harassment without fear of violence.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing to 9th August for the Probation Service to prepare a report. They refused to rule out sending the case to the crown court for sentencing.

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