Man jailed for eight months for wearing t-shirt endorsing police murder (From Messenger Newspapers)

Man jailed for eight months for wearing t-shirt endorsing police murder

3:39pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

A MAN has been jailed for eight months for wearing a t-shirt endorsing the kiliing of police officers, three hours after the murders of PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes.

Barry Thew, 39, of Radcliffe, wrote the comments ‘one less pig: perfect justice’ and ‘killacopforfun.com ha haa?’ on the front and back of his t-shirt and was seen wearing it in Radcliffe town centre on September 18.

He was then taken into custody.

Thew admitted to a Section 4A Public Order Offence, which legislates against displaying writing or other visible representation with intention of causing harassment, alarm or distress.

He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown court today.

Insp Bryn Williams, of the Radcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "While officers on the ground were just learning of and trying to come to terms with the devastating news that two colleagues had been murdered, Thew thought nothing of going out in public with a t-shirt daubed with appalling hand written comments on.

"Thankfully the overwhelming response from the public - who have inundated us with messages of support and condolence - prove that Thew is the exception and not the rule and our communities were right behind us at our darkest hour.

"To mock or joke about the tragic events of that morning is morally reprehensible and Thew has rightly been convicted and sentenced for his actions."