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Man Jailed for 40 Weeks for Racist Threat to BBC Radio Nottingham Host

The judge said a hate-fueled message, combined with a violated protection order, warranted custody.

Overview

  • Michael James, 57, admitted sending a communication threatening serious harm and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
  • Judge Rupert Mayo imposed a 40-week sentence after accepting James's apology but noting the offense's severity and his record.
  • The message threatened to stab presenter Arun Verma “22 times” in supposed revenge for the Manchester Arena bombing and used racist slurs.
  • Station staff and the on-air host saw the message during a live broadcast, and BBC Radio Nottingham contacted police that evening.
  • Prosecutors said James breached his SHPO by deleting the message; the defense cited serious health problems and offered an apology to Mr Verma and the BBC.