A Yorkshire man arrested by British police for posting a photograph of himself legally holding a firearm in the United States has announced he is taking legal action against the force and no longer feels safe in the UK.
The LinkedIn post that sparked a police investigation
Jon Richelieu-Booth, a 50-year-old IT consultant from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said his ordeal began in August 2025 after he shared a holiday picture on LinkedIn. The image showed him holding a gun while on private land in Florida, USA, with the full permission of the weapon's owner.
Despite the activity being lawful in that jurisdiction, a police officer visited his home in the UK after someone raised concerns about the picture. He was advised to be careful about what he posts online. The situation escalated dramatically on August 24, when officers returned to his residence around 10pm and arrested him.
Thirteen weeks of hell and dropped charges
Mr Richelieu-Booth described enduring '13 weeks of hell' following his arrest. He was held overnight in a police cell, and officers interviewed his neighbours. The initial bail document cited allegations of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a separate stalking claim.
He asserts that he tried to show police geolocation evidence proving the photo was taken abroad, but claims he was told it was 'not needed'. The firearms and stalking allegations were eventually dropped. However, he was charged with a public order offence relating to a different social media post in which he called a contractor, who he says owes him around £30,000, a 'delinquent'.
The case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ahead of a scheduled hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court in December 2025, with reports stating there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.
Loss of faith and plans to sue
The experience has profoundly affected Mr Richelieu-Booth. He told the Daily Mail: 'I’ve not slept for weeks. I lie awake dreading a knock at my door... I don’t feel welcome in this country anymore. I don’t feel safe in this country anymore.' He says his long-held faith in UK policing has been destroyed, and he is now planning a permanent move to the US.
He is also preparing to sue West Yorkshire Police. In a statement, the force 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.'
