Police probe parish council Jackie abuse
Troll’s vile email to online star
POLICE have launched an investigation after a troll told council officer Jackie Weaver she “doesn’t deserve to be let out of a burning building”.
Ms Weaver, 63, became an online star after video of her calmly acting as clerk at an illtempered Handforth parish council meeting went viral.
She had been told she had “no authority” by chairman Brian Tolver, as she kicked out some unruly councillors.
But Cheshire Police is now probing reports of a “malicious communication” after Ms Weaver received the email the day after clips of the meeting were posted online. The message, seen by the Mirror, also labelled Ms Weaver a “disgrace”.
Shocked colleagues had been copied into the email and sent it to the police.
A force spokesman confirmed: “A report of malicious communication is being investigated by Cheshire Police.”
Ms Weaver said of the email: “I definitely didn’t take it as a death threat. But they copied my colleagues in.
“And, without referring it to
RUMPUS me, my colleagues referred it to the police.
“Don’t get me wrong – I was not unhappy.”
But she added: “I don’t think [the trolls] would have done anything.” Ms Weaver, of Shropshire, has been sent several hurtful messages since becoming an unlikely star. She said: “Some were extremely unpleasant and I took them to heart.”
The no-nonsense clerk dealt with the disruptive councillors when they met late last year. Footage was watched by millions on social media earlier this month.
Clips were even shared by famous names, including ex-chancellor George Osborne.
Handforth’s latest meeting, held without Ms Weaver last week, was disrupted again – this time by members of the public who kept shouting phrases from the first meeting.
The police probe comes days after a man appeared in court accused of sending a “grossly offensive” tweet about the late Captain Sir Tom Moore. Joseph Kelly, 35, denies posting about the hero.