The Bexley one is free.

I’m glad to see that Olly Cromwell, the Blogger from Bexley has not been incarcerated under section 127 of the communications act.

He has however been sentenced to 80 hours community service, £620 of costs awarded against him, and a watered down restraining order.

On 13 April 2012, Cromwell was convicted under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 for sending two tweets about Bexley Council, one of which contained a profanity (c***) and a photograph.  Previously, Cromwell had been charged with harassment and incitement to commit criminal damage, but those charges were dropped on the basis that there was no evidence and the Prosecution was misconceived.

Despite the Prosecution proposing a custodial sentence, the District Judge decided that Cromwell should receive 80 hours unpaid work. A restraining order was imposed, but vastly reduced from the widely drafted and very restricted order sought by Bexley Council.  Notwithstanding his conviction we secured a full costs order for the harassment charge which was thrown out.

That’s what you get when you challenge your council.

George Orwell would be so proud..

The full account is here at Malcolm Knight’s Blog

#freethebexleyone

I see that the Ollie Cromwell case has just hit the MSM. In the case of the Daily Fail, only online. Bit slow as this has been blogged and tweeted since Friday.

Freedom of speech row over blogger who faces jail for calling councillor a c*** on Twitter

I wonder if this man will get charged with the same?

I doubt it.

Here is all the facts in case you missed them

C*nts

I’m copying the entire post from Dioclese’s blog.

In an episode that would not be out of place in Orwell's 1984, Bexley Council have persued a prosecution of blogger Ollie Cromwell for calling one of their councillors a c*nt on Twitter.
The so-called 'c*ntgate affair' came about as a result of Ollie tweeting that he thought one of their councillors was a c*nt. Now if you honestly hold an opinion and believe it to be true, then you can't prosecuted successfully for libel or slander, but apparently if you express an opinion on Twitter then you can be found guilty under section 127 of the Communications Act of 2003 for using an offensive word - which is what has happened to Ollie.

More worryingly, the judiciary failed to kick this trumped up piece of crap into touch thus signalling what has been suggested in some circles as 'the herald of the death of free speech'.

Clearly, Bexley councillors are a touchy lot. I refer readers to a tweet posted under #freethebexleyone where @cjmillsnun says 'I am an elected councillor. As long as I'm not being harassed, residents can call me names if they want'. Well said, they man!!
There's an old saying that if you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. Perhaps councillors at Bexley should take this to heart. You are, after all, elected to serve the wishes of the people. Now admittedly, people can be right c*nts but you knew that when you took the job on.

What you are not there for is to offer yourself up for self-aggrandisement and to set the thought police on your electorate.
Bexley Council are asking the judge to impose a 180 day custodial sentence on Ollie. By my reckoning this is therefore deemed to be more serious than causing death by dangerous driving where you can get off with less than this.

And while we're on the subject, guess where this prosecution was brought? Yep, Bexley - so clearly no chance whatsoever of any undue influence or bias in the proceedings at all, is there?
Surely, only a c*nt would suggest otherwise..

More HERE and HERE and HERE. And now HERE

You’re guilty even though you maybe innocent.

Ollie Cromwell, a blogger that has been trying to expose the somewhat dubious machinations of Bexley Council could use a little help. His blog has been a bit sweary at times but he is being attacked by the state apparatus for daring to question the politburo on Bexley council.  In his words:

I started this blog post a few days ago, and subsequently changed my mind about publishing it, for the simple reason that if I continued to write it I’d lose my temper and do something silly. Adorning the top of this post you will see two images. Look VERY closely at them for they are documented proof that freedom of speech and expression in this country is not only dead, it’s decomposing and leaving a stinking, rotting stench behind. A stench which I fear is spreading, rather fucking quickly. Let alone the lack of any sort of legitimate justice.

The original post was only going to be about the proposed restraining order that the CPS were applying for. Alas! Life she isn’t that simple, or nice really, she likes throwing more than one rotting c**t flap at you in one go. I’ll get to that bit in a minute, I just want to comment on the proposed restraining order. It’s not going to be a lengthy analysis, just important points that I want to make.

Now I don’t say here that this is the whole story, but having followed his blog for some time, I feel inclined to believe his side of the story.

If nothing else, just go over and read his story.

For background reading on Bexley councils antics go over to Malcolm’s blog for some measured background information.  

You've been Cromwelled

If you want your MP to know how you feel about his troughing then use this site.

You've been Cromwelled