North London Man Receives Suspended Sentence for Threatening Emails to Prime Minister
A 63-year-old man from Camden, North London, has been sentenced for sending a series of threatening and abusive emails to Sir Keir Starmer, who is now the Prime Minister but was serving as Labour Party leader at the time of the offences.
Court Proceedings and Conviction Details
Mark Tew was convicted in June following a trial at Southwark Crown Court on seven counts of sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety between March and November 2021. The court heard that five of these emails were directed at Sir Keir Starmer, while one was sent to criminal barrister Stuart Trimmer KC, and another was addressed to both individuals.
On Friday, Tew appeared at the Old Bailey where he pleaded guilty to six additional counts of failure to surrender to custody at Southwark Crown Court between October 2023 and February 2026.
Nature of the Threats and Legal Response
Prosecutor Sahil Sinha revealed that the messages contained explicit calls for violence, including demands for assault and beheading of the intended recipients. Mr Justice Murray, presiding over the case, described each email as "grossly offensive and or threatening" during sentencing.
The first two emails sent to Sir Keir Starmer were characterized as "full of abusive profanities and threats of violence" toward the politician. Subsequent communications included threats of beheading in Lincoln's Inn Fields and death threats directed at both Sir Keir and Mr Trimmer.
Sentencing and Judicial Commentary
Mr Justice Murray handed Tew a 17-month prison sentence suspended for two years. This comprised 14 months for the electronic communication offences and three months for the failure to attend court offences, to run consecutively but suspended.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge referenced the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, noting that "public anxiety about the safety of elected politicians was particularly high" during the period when Tew committed his offences.
The judge also acknowledged that none of the emails reached their intended recipients, as staff members intercepted them and alerted authorities.
Defense Arguments and Personal Circumstances
Defense counsel Stella Harris described Tew as a "vulnerable person" facing both mental and physical health challenges. A psychiatric report presented to the court confirmed diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and persecutory type delusional disorder.
Harris noted that the offences occurred during the 2021 pandemic period, when Tew experienced significant isolation. The court heard that Tew has not committed any offences since the trial period.
Additional Sentencing Requirements
In addition to the suspended sentence, Tew received:
- A rehabilitation activity requirement of 15 days
- An electronically monitored curfew from 8pm to 7am for four months
- A restraining order
The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized their commitment to prosecuting such cases, stating: "Elected officials must be able to fulfil their democratic roles without the fear of harassment or violence hanging over them."
Notably, Tew was found not guilty of sending a similar communication to former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel in January 2021.
