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UK Man Arrested For Offensive Joke Posted On Facebook

Posted by timothy on from the you've-got-to-be-not-joking dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A tasteless joke posted on Facebook saw a man arrested in the UK under section 127 of the Communications Act, for sending a public electronic communication which is 'grossly offensive'. Matthew Wood, 20, of Eaves Lane, Chorley, UK will appear before Chorley Magistrates' Court on Monday."

5 of 606 comments (clear)

  1. The joke in question by Sprite_tm · · Score: 5, Informative

    FYI: According to the internet, the joke in question was:
    'What's the difference between Mark Bridger and Santa Claus? Mark Bridger comes in April.' ...yeah.

    1. Re:The joke in question by HungryHobo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Someone pointed out elsewhere:

      "That's apparently not what happened. This guy posted the joke on his own wall; someone else took a screen grab of it and posted it on the April Jones page."

      He didn't write that joke on the page for the victims. someone else did but with a screenshot of his personal page.

      Probably reposted to the page by an offense junkie who gets off on showing off things they think people should be offended by.

  2. Re:context by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    For further context, the exact same joke has been posted on Sickipedia about a hundred times in the last week, with no arrests. People go to Sickipedia expecting to see such jokes, so in that context it cannot be considered "grossly offensive".

    But this guy posted it on the offical Find April Jones Facebook page. Thus, it might be considered directed at the victims, and is hence a breach of criminal law.

  3. Re:context by s7uar7 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's apparently not what happened. This guy posted the joke on his own wall; someone else took a screen grab of it and posted it on the April Jones page.

  4. Some background ... by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sick, but that would be civil case.

    For those who don't know why the joke is sick, below link will provide you some background ...

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19867915

     
     
     
     

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