Leeds facebook troll ‘could face jail’ over teacher stabbing comments

Jake Newsome, 21, wrote on the social media site in the aftermath of the death of Mrs Maguire, who was stabbed to death at Corpus Christi Catholic College, in Leeds, on April 28.

It said: “Personally, I’m glad that teacher got stabbed up. Feel sorry for the kid. He should have p***** on her too.”

Newsome, from Harehills, Leeds, admitted sending an offensive message at Leeds Magistrates Court.

District Judge Roy Anderson said he wanted a pre-sentence report and bailed him to June 4.

District Judge Anderson warned him that all sentence options were open, including a jail sentence.

Amanda Harris, prosecuting, told the court that Newsome posted the message on Facebook on the afternoon of May 1.

Ms Harris said Facebook users quickly posted a range of comments in response, objecting to what he was saying, and he was reported to West Yorkshire Police.

The prosecutor said he admitted to officers that he put the message on the site but claimed he did not think it was offensive.

Ann Glen, defending, said: “He felt that there were some similarities with what people were saying about the young man (the alleged attacker) and the background of this defendant.”

Mr Anderson said: “This is an unpleasant offence, to say the least, in the circumstances that prevailed a couple of weeks ago in this city.

“You must expect to be dealt with appropriately. I’m not ruling out any form of sentence, including a prison sentence.”

He gave Newsome unconditional bail and said he will be sentenced at the same court on June 4.

Newsome left court with a group of friends, saying nothing, dressed in waterproof top over a hoodie and wearing a black, woolly hat.

Tributes from around the world have poured in for Mrs Maguire, 61, who was stabbed a number of times as she taught a Spanish lesson.

She had taught at Corpus Christi for more than 40 years and was due to retire in September.

* A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with Mrs Maguire’s murder and is due to go on trial later this year.