Man avoids jail over harassment of SNP MP Carol Monaghan

A man who harassed a Glasgow MP for four months over her views on Brexit has avoided jail.

Jonathan Bell, 35, last month admitted that his behaviour towards the SNP’s Carol Monaghan had caused her “fear or alarm”.

Monaghan, who represents the Glasgow North West constituency, was taken to a police safe house with her family as a result of the harassment by Bell between January and April 2019.

As well as posting offensive comments aimed at Monaghan on social media, Bell smeared tomato sauce on the door and window of the MP’s constituency office in the city’s Partick area.

He also left a concerning voicemail on the office phone of Monaghan, as well as having contacted Crimestoppers, telling them that her ‘life was in danger’.

On Monday, Sheriff Martin Jones QC ordered Bell to do 180 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for two years.

He was also tagged for six months, keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am. A non-harassment order was also granted, restricting Bell from contacting the MP for five years.

The sheriff said: “Let me make this clear, your behaviour was disgraceful and can’t be condoned.

“You cannot behave in this way and the court will take a very serious view of that.

“These are means of objecting in political debate but you must not intimidate members of parliament, do you understand?”

Bell responded: “Yes.”