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Court: Man posted offensive messages on Facebook

A man who carried out an online vendetta of abuse against a former family friend has been jailed for six months. Mark Taylor (52) of Princes Road, Peterborough posted a number of posts on Facebook about the former friend - despite having already been givena jail term for harassmentagainstthewomanafew months before.

The previous three month jail sentence had been imposed in 2014 alongside a restraining order banning Taylor from posting about the woman, and anything aboutthecase- butoveranine month period between 2015 and 2016 he posted 14 times, including using offensive language and insults.

On Friday he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of harassment- breaching a restraining order.

Judge David Farrell, sentencing, told Taylor: “The restraining order was put in place after a campaign of harassmentoveraperiodofsome time - a couple of years or more. This resulted in you receiving a short custodial sentence and a restraining order.

“What you did upon your release is you have let it take over your life.

“You said you had unfinished grievances and carried out an ongoing vendetta with a series of posts over nine or ten months.”

Judge Farrell said he was sure the posts would have caused significant psychological harm to Taylor’s victim.

David Smithet, defending Taylor, told the court: “He has shown remorse for his behav- iour, and through me wants to express his apologies to his victim. It is an unconditional apology.

“Hehasnowthoughtabout the whole situation, and understands what he did was wrong.”

But before Taylor was sent down to the cells, Judge Farrell said the restraining order wouldremaininplaceafterhe was released from prison.

Headded:“This wasacampaignandvendettaagainstthe family, anditwouldnotbejustice if I did not impose an immediate custodial sentence.

“You made their life a misery over asignificantperiodof time. Youhavetolearnithasto stop. I hopethis will teach you that you cannot do this.”

HewarnedTaylorsentences would get longer if he continued to offend.

Taylorwavedtosupporters in the public gallery as he was led away to start his sentence.