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An IT consultant was arrested by police in Britain after he posted a picture online of himself posing with a gun in the US.
Jon Richelieu-Booth said he was shocked by the “Orwellian” decision by West Yorkshire Police (WYP) to prosecute him over the social media post.
The 50-year-old said that on Aug 13 he had posted a picture of himself on LinkedIn holding a shotgun while on a private homestead with friends during a holiday in Florida.
Mr Richelieu-Booth claims the LinkedIn message contained nothing he considered threatening, with the picture attached to a lengthy post about his day and work activities.
However, he said that a police officer later visited his home to warn him that concerns had been raised about the post.
“I was told to be careful what I say online and I need to understand how it makes people feel,” he said.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he offered to provide officers with proof that the picture of the firearm had been taken while he was in the US but the officers said that was not necessary.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said two officers then returned to his home shortly after 10pm on Aug 24 and arrested him.
A bail document seen by The Telegraph refers to an allegation of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a further allegation of stalking related to a photograph of a house that appeared on his social media.
He said he was held overnight in a cell before being interviewed.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was initially released on bail until late October.
He alleges that police officers then visited his property on three further occasions before he was re-arrested in October for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. However, that charge was later dropped.
He claims not to know which post he was being charged in relation to and does not recall being questioned by police about any specific post made on that date.
He had been due to appear at Bradford magistrates’ court on Nov 25 charged with an offence of displaying “any writing/sign/visible representation with intent to cause harassment/alarm or distress”. However, that charge was also later dropped, he said.
Describing his ordeal as “massive overreach”, Mr Richelieu-Booth added: “Anybody should be allowed to say anything they wish, as long as it’s not hateful.
“When did we go from a society where you can have a discussion with somebody and go, ‘You know what? I don’t like your opinion. I’m going to disagree with you, but I’m not going to tell you why, I’m going to call the police’.
“When did we get so thin-skinned as a society?”
He said: “I’ve always believed in truth and justice and stood up for the police and believed they are doing an important job of keeping order. Now I have no faith in the police.”
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was considering making a formal complaint against WYP.
“I will be filing a case against the police, I have been put through 13 weeks of hell and I will be seeking quite a lot of damages,” Mr Richelieu-Booth said.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police received a complaint of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, relating partly to social media posts, several of which included pictures of a male posing with a variety of firearms which the complainant took to be a threat.
“Police investigated and charged a man with a public order offence but the case was then discontinued by the CPS.”
Archive
An IT consultant was arrested by police in Britain after he posted a picture online of himself posing with a gun in the US.
Jon Richelieu-Booth said he was shocked by the “Orwellian” decision by West Yorkshire Police (WYP) to prosecute him over the social media post.
The 50-year-old said that on Aug 13 he had posted a picture of himself on LinkedIn holding a shotgun while on a private homestead with friends during a holiday in Florida.
Mr Richelieu-Booth claims the LinkedIn message contained nothing he considered threatening, with the picture attached to a lengthy post about his day and work activities.
However, he said that a police officer later visited his home to warn him that concerns had been raised about the post.
“I was told to be careful what I say online and I need to understand how it makes people feel,” he said.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he offered to provide officers with proof that the picture of the firearm had been taken while he was in the US but the officers said that was not necessary.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said two officers then returned to his home shortly after 10pm on Aug 24 and arrested him.
A bail document seen by The Telegraph refers to an allegation of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a further allegation of stalking related to a photograph of a house that appeared on his social media.
He said he was held overnight in a cell before being interviewed.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was initially released on bail until late October.
He alleges that police officers then visited his property on three further occasions before he was re-arrested in October for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. However, that charge was later dropped.
Public order offence
The firearms and stalking allegations were also dropped but Mr Richelieu-Booth was charged with a public order offence relating to a different social media post.He claims not to know which post he was being charged in relation to and does not recall being questioned by police about any specific post made on that date.
He had been due to appear at Bradford magistrates’ court on Nov 25 charged with an offence of displaying “any writing/sign/visible representation with intent to cause harassment/alarm or distress”. However, that charge was also later dropped, he said.
Unable to work
Mr Richelieu-Booth claimed he has been left unable to do his job as a self-employed IT contractor because the force seized his phone and computers.Describing his ordeal as “massive overreach”, Mr Richelieu-Booth added: “Anybody should be allowed to say anything they wish, as long as it’s not hateful.
“When did we go from a society where you can have a discussion with somebody and go, ‘You know what? I don’t like your opinion. I’m going to disagree with you, but I’m not going to tell you why, I’m going to call the police’.
“When did we get so thin-skinned as a society?”
He said: “I’ve always believed in truth and justice and stood up for the police and believed they are doing an important job of keeping order. Now I have no faith in the police.”
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was considering making a formal complaint against WYP.
“I will be filing a case against the police, I have been put through 13 weeks of hell and I will be seeking quite a lot of damages,” Mr Richelieu-Booth said.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police received a complaint of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, relating partly to social media posts, several of which included pictures of a male posing with a variety of firearms which the complainant took to be a threat.
“Police investigated and charged a man with a public order offence but the case was then discontinued by the CPS.”
