Woman guilty over Facebook post

Anna-Marie Day was found guilty of posting the ‘grossly offensive’ post of Facebook for the purpose of causing anxiety and distress, following a trial at Worksop Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Day, 39, of Frederick Street, Worksop told magistrates that she posted the message, under her other name of Ann-Marie Lodge-Newbury, to ‘warn’ parents about the person after hearing rumours about them in a shop, but denied it was to cause ‘anxiety and distress.’

Magistrates were told police found no truth in the rumours following checks.

PCSO Andrew Carter and his colleague, PCSO Stacey Deakin, were approached by residents in Rhodesia asking if the post was true. They both told the court they asked Day to remove it but she refused.

Day, giving evidence, who has almost 2,000 Facebook friends, stressed she posted it only to warn them to ‘keep an eye on their children.’

She said she told the PCSOs she couldn’t remove it because it had been put on using a phone and it could not be removed using one.

Day was also found guilty of assaulting a PCSO assisting an officer in the execution of his duty, when police arrested her at home on 5th November.

Day was sentenced following a probation report to a six month community order, with a supervision requirement. She must also pay £90 costs, £60 victim surcharge and compensation of £50.