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Facebook 'troll' Sean Duffy sentenced over offensive image

 

Karrie Gillett
Friday 16 March 2012 16:50 GMT

A man who posted an offensive image of a teenage shooting victim online has been given community service, the Crown Office has said.

Sophie Taylor, 16, was shot accidentally by her boyfriend, 18-year-old trainee gamekeeper Calum Murray, who then turned the gun on himself at a cottage near Tomintoul, Moray, last April.

Sean Duffy, 26, from Reading, Berks, admitted earlier that between April 18 and 20 he defaced a tribute site set up to remember the schoolgirl.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court today, Duffy was sentenced to a community payback order with supervision for two years and told to do 300 hours of unpaid work.

He is also banned from creating any accounts on social networking sites and is not allowed to post any videos or buy any device with internet access.

Andrew Richardson, district procurator fiscal for Aberdeen and Stonehaven, said after the sentencing: "The cruel and callous actions of Sean Duffy added to what was already a very distressing and traumatic time for people trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one.

"Online behaviour such as this is deplorable and unacceptable. As prosecutors, we will take a rigorous and firm approach to any such vile offences, ensuring criminals like Sean Duffy are prosecuted."

Duffy appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on February 17 and pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing Act 2010.

PA

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