‘Keyboard warrior’ from Lincoln jailed for three years for stirring up racial hatred after Southport deaths

A ‘keyboard warrior’ who admitted publishing written material online to stir up racial hatred during the recent protests was today (Friday) jailed for three years.

Wayne O’Rourke, 35, who had more than 90,000 followers to his X account, expressed support for the recent protests and offered advice to protesters on how to remain anonymous.

Among his posts on July 29 was a reference to the death of three children in Southport alleging it was a terrorist attack carried out by a Muslim.

A further post read: "People of Southport where the f**k are you, get out on the street."

That post had 1.7 million views, the court was told.

Other posts showed a picture of the County Road mosque in Liverpool and a picture of burning car in Sunderland.

This was accompanied by a post which read: "Sunderland, go on lads "

Another post read: "Starmer has basically said it us against them. Hold the line."

Other posts read: "Numbers are important" and "give them hell lads."

O'Rourke's X profile was accompanied by a picture of a bulldog wearing a Union Jack jacket.

In interview O'Rourke admitted receiving around £1,400 a month in payments for his account.

O'Rourke of Salix Approach, Lincoln, admitted publishing written material online to stir up racial hatred between July 28 and August 8.

The court heard O'Rourke had no previous convictions but was cautioned for fraud in 2018.

Lucia Harrington, mitigating, said O'Rourke did not set up his account with the intention of encouraging such material and became ‘caught up in the media frenzy’.

Miss Harrington said O'Rourke had previously worked as a parcel sorter but left work to become the carer for his partner.

She added that O'Rourke now wanted to re-educate himself about things that he had got wrong.

Also read: Man accused of stirring up racial hatred to face trial

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told O'Rourke: "You were not caught up in what others were doing, you were instigating it."

Judge Catarina Knight added: "The flames fanned by keyboard warriors like you."

The Judge also made it clear she did not accept O'Rourke's claim in interview that it was dark humour.

Judge Sjolin Knight asked O'Rourke directly: "Where is the humour I ask you Mr O'Rourke?"