A persistent online troll who continued to carry out a campaign of abuse against a grieving widow despite a restraining order has been sentenced to 15 months in jail. Katie Bell, 27, had previously received a suspended jail sentence in 2021 for her abusive comments and threats on social media. However, she resumed her malicious behavior just months later.
During the sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court, Recorder Andrew Smith MBE described Bell as “cowardly” and emphasized the distress she caused to her victims. Bell pleaded guilty to two breaches of a restraining order, breaching a suspended sentence order, and a further charge of malicious communications on Twitter and Instagram. The court heard that she directed abusive comments towards individuals and made inflammatory remarks on the social media pages of news outlets and police forces.
One victim, in a statement read out in court, shared the emotional toll Bell’s actions had on her, including comments about her late husband. Bell had posted hurtful remarks on news articles paying tribute to the woman’s husband, even stating, “Serves him right.” These actions occurred in direct violation of the suspended sentence and restraining order imposed on Bell.
The court also heard about Bell’s malicious communication offense, which involved making inflammatory comments on various online platforms. In one instance, she responded to a missing person appeal by Merseyside Police, callously stating, “Serves her right if she is dead.
Recorder Smith addressed Bell’s behavior, highlighting her tendency to hide behind a computer screen and provoke others. He stated that he did not believe she posed a physical confrontation risk, noting her cowardly nature and reliance on online platforms to antagonize individuals.
By sentencing Bell to 15 months in jail, the court aims to send a strong message about the consequences of online harassment and abuse. Such actions have a significant impact on the well-being and mental health of victims. The case serves as a reminder that the justice system takes online offenses seriously and is committed to protecting individuals from harmful online behavior.
