Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff has spoken out about her terrifying ordeal after a man threatened to rape and kill her in a Facebook message.
Daniel Labacik, 38, of Rowan Way, Balderton, Nottinghamshire, has admitted threatening to rape and kill the newly-elected MP in a Facebook Messenger post.
Ms Sherriff received a threatening and racist message on the social media site just hours after she called for the community to unite in the wake of the death of a suicide bomber from Dewsbury.
Part of the message reads: “Dead girl walking. Hope you get raped. We got your phone number and details. Thanks.”
Labacik pleaded guilty to sending an electronic communication which was “indecent or grossly offensive” contrary to the Malicious Communications Act.
He was released on conditional bail by Kirklees magistrates and the case was adjourned until October 21 for a pre-sentence report.
The message was sent to the ‘Paula Sherriff Fighting for Dewsbury’ page on June 15, just weeks after Ms Sherriff was elected as MP for Dewsbury, Mirfield, Denby Dale and Kirkburton.
That day she had issued a statement calling for unity after it was revealed that Talha Asmal, 17, a student at Mirfield Free Grammar School, had blown himself up in the northern Iraqi town of Baiji.
Asmal had flown to Syria via Turkey from Manchester Airport with his friend Hassan Munshi, 17, from Savile Town.
Ms Sherriff told the Examiner how she was sitting in the House of Commons tearoom at 9pm after a late vote when the message came through.
Shocked, she showed it on her iPad to experienced fellow Labour MP Emily Thornberry who told her to contact police.
“My initial reaction was just shock,” said Ms Sherriff. “I was staying in a hotel at the other side of London at the time and I was getting the Tube back.
“I previously worked in the criminal justice system so I knew that something was unlikely to happen and that threats are usually just that – threats – but I still felt quite vulnerable.
“I live alone and my address is probably out there. It was not inconceivable that he knew where I lived.”
Police checked later that Ms Sherriff had got back to her hotel safely and security was reviewed at home and at her office.
Ms Sherriff said she was relieved that Labacik had pleaded guilty and added: “This sends out a very clear message that people cannot use social media in this way.
“It was a rape and death threat and that is just as unacceptable on social media as it is face to face.
“We all disagree in politics and in life but this is not acceptable. Some people tried to say it was a joke and wasn’t meant to be taken seriously but this was beyond a joke.”
