A DEWSBURY man who sent an abusive text message to a "mole" who helped expose the activities of the BNP in a BBC TV documentary has been spared a jail sentence.
Jeremy Oakley, 40, had been warned he could be jailed after he admitted sending a threatening text message to Andrew Sykes in July.
Mr Sykes was sent the message after working on the BBC Secret Agent's documentary, broadcast this year.
The programme used an undercover reporter to expose the activities of the far Right group in West Yorkshire.
After the broadcast Mr Sykes was sent a message warning him to watch his mail and another threatening his life.
Oakley, of Thorn Avenue, Thornhill, admitted sending one of the messages to Mr Sykes. He was charged under the Malicious Communications Act.
At an earlier hearing before Dewsbury magistrates he pleaded guilty to sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress.
He appeared in court for sentence, where magistrate Clifford Bromley told him he had been spared jail because of his genuine remorse and guilty plea.
Mr Bromley imposed a two- year community rehabilitation order and told Oakley to pay £100 compensation to his victim.
The court was told Oakley had sent a message to Mr Sykes on July 25 saying: "Watch your mail you scum. Boom. From C18."
The court was told C18 referred to Combat 18, an extreme far Right organisation.
The court also heard that Mr Sykes feared for his safety and that of his family following the message from Oakley.
Magistrates heard that another man had been cautioned for the same offence after he sent a message to Mr Sykes saying: "You are dead. C18."
Oakley's lawyer, Paul Blanchard, said his client had never been a member of Combat 18 or the BNP and had committed the offence while "in drink".
He added: "If he could put the clock back, and if he had thought about the consequences of his actions on that day, he would never have sent that message.
"He apologises for this action and wishes he was not here today."
