Man who threatened to kill MP banned from contacting politicians for 12 years

Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali
NIGEL HOWARD

A Labour MP who was “exposed to a continuous stream of abuse and harassment” by a constituent today said she is marking “the end of a distressing period” after her abuser was banned from contacting members of parliament for 12 years.

Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali said she was left “living in a constant state of fear” by Hussain Sha, 42, who threatened to kill her during an 18 month barrage of abusive messages.

Sha sent hundreds of threatening emails to her, her staff and some of her family members, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

He was involved with Ms Ali’s constituency office following a problem with his housing but then became obsessed with the MP and sent some 290 messages to her between April 2018 and his arrest in December 2019, the court heard.

MP Rushanara Ali pictured with Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs, who was also threatened by Sha
NIGEL HOWARD

Many contained racist slurs and in one message, sent to a family member, he threatened to go to Ms Ali’s office “with a hand [gun] to do her Jo Cox-style”.

In another he said he would “blow up Rushanara’s office terrorist- style with petrol".

He also sent abusive and threatening messages to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs, former Home Secretary Sajid Javid, former Poplar and Limehouse MP Jim Fitzpatrick and Ms Ali’s Labour predecessor Oona King.

Last week he avoided jail, but was sentenced to a three year community order, 120 hours community service and handed a 12 year restraining order, which requires him to ask a courts permission before contacting an MP.

The judge also said he must complete a 60 day rehabilitation programme.

Ms Ali said today: “The sentencing for Sha hopefully marks the end of a distressing period for me, my family and my staff. We have been exposed to a continuous stream of abuse and harassment over the past few years. The sentence appropriately reflects the serious nature of the offence, as this type of behaviour is never acceptable.

“I am grateful for the support I received from my local police officers, the CPS and all those involved in supporting us with this case. I’ve seen first-hand the exceptional pressures our public servants work under, with limited resources, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Ms Ali also called for more funding for mental health services to help prevent similar crimes before they reach the court system.

She added: “Multidisciplinary services which focus on reducing crime, including mental health support services need to be properly funded, so they can intervene early to prevent crimes like these from happening or help de-escalate potentially dangerous situations by providing appropriate treatment immediately."

Sha, who had been in custody awaiting sentencing for more than six months, admitted two counts of racially and religiously aggravated harassment, two counts of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress, threatening to destroy or damage property and fraud at a hearing last summer.

He has also pleaded guilty to one count of exposure in relation to an unrelated case.

At his sentencing last Monday Sha, of Bethnal Green, was invited back to court on April 27 to discuss his progress.

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