Man Sentenced Over Racist Email to Bradford MP Naz Shah
Racist Rant Lands Ian Brown in Hot Water
Ian Brown, 60, shot off a vile email to Bradford MP Naz Shah, dragging in forced marriages, honour killings, grooming gangs, and female genital mutilation. His chilling sign-off? “I’m sure victims of grooming gangs… are happy at your appointment.” He even included his full name and address.
Police Step In After Victim Reports Abuse
The MP reported the hate-filled message to police. During questioning, Brown claimed his email, sent on 11 April last year, was born from anger—not racial hatred. That excuse didn’t hold. On Tuesday, 20 April 2021, Brown copped a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, delivered at 1 Magistrates’ Court.
Hate Crime Charge Hikes Sentence
Brown pleaded guilty to sending an offensive message over a public network. As well as the suspended jail term, he must complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay the MP £100 compensation. The court also slapped him with a six-month ban on contacting Naz Shah.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) pushed for a hate crime uplift, upgrading the offence due to racial motivation—making jail time an option.
CPS Condemns Racist Abuse Against Elected Official
“This was a shocking and racist message sent to an elected member of Parliament who was left deeply saddened by the hateful language directed at her,” said Kris Venkatasami from the CPS.
“Brown brazenly signed off with his full details and refused to admit the racist intent. He claimed he believed a certain ethnic group was misogynistic and needed to be ‘rooted out’, calling it ‘political incorrectness’. Hate crimes have no place in society.
“I hope this conviction encourages other victims of hate crime to come forward knowing the CPS will fight to bring offenders to justice.”
