A former member of the British National Party has been fined £200 after admitting publishing the details of some 10,000 party members online.
Matthew Single, 37, formerly of Church Lane, Brinsley, Notts, was fined by Nottingham magistrates after admitting disclosing data without consent. The names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of some party supporters were leaked in November.
Judge John Stobart said the fine was "low" because Single was on benefits. District Judge John Stobart also ordered Single to pay £100 towards the cost of the prosecution.
The judge told Single: "Anything that is posted on the internet has the effect of opening a Pandora's box. What you put on the internet can never be taken from it and while there may be some members in this organisation who do not deserve to be protected by the law, they should be able to expect that officers within the organisation will not abuse the information provided to them. The law exists to save people from such revenge attacks."
Judge Stobart added: "It came as a surprise to me, as it will to many members of the party, that to do something as foolish and as criminally dangerous as you did will only incur a financial penalty. It comes as no surprise to me that somebody to do with an organisation that prides itself on Britishness is in fact living off the British people on Job Seeker's Allowance and that is why the fine is so low as to be ridiculous."
The charges were dropped against Single's wife, Sadie Graham-Single. The 30-year-old was not at the court.
BBC
47 comments:
Amazingly this report from the BBC is the fairest one I've read. An awful lot listed loads of stuff that they claimed had happened as a result of the leak including the car fire that was nothing to do with it.
One report had this added on
BNP spokesman John Walker said some of the party's members were now considering civil cases against Single and his wife. Mr Walker added: "There have been some real victims in this case. People had their homes attacked and some people have lost their jobs."
It'll never happen. They'll have to prove whatever they claimed actually happened and that it was caused by the leaked list. Impossible really.
They should have given him £200 for the laughs he gave us lot.
Pity though, old one-eye'll be crowing about this.
She's pregnant again and Lee Barnes is telling everyone in the party they should sur them and claim damages, thus taking all there money and property. What a shit.
Not really those who lost their jobs over it will be able to prove it i.e. police officers etc.
PS. Single is very lucky that the judge could no more than fine him (Derby seems to have got over-excited.
Or (if it happened and is persued) quite easy.
All that is needed is for a case where somebody was called and can show (through recording, a BT phone-tap as in with obscene calls, or a confession from the perpetrator if caught) that the caller said that they got their name from the list.
Certainly people were called, including those classed as 'vulnerable' (elderly, single females, disabled - and saying 'but they're nazis' doesn't change the law or their status), people did report it to the police and BT and so, no doubt, taps were made. There have been several cases of people being called making nuisance phone calls to BNP members, no doubt some, if not all, can be traced to the list.
If anything goes beyond 'prank calling', ie a threat to kill, or a threat against property (esp if it was later carried out) then there prob is a very good case to be made.
I wait with baited breath to see if the BNP do start any actions, and to see if Barnes The Wise is the one put in 'charge' of their legal efforts.
Of course, claims of homes being attacked and jobs lost do need to be proved, and for that to happen, the first requisite is for it have taken place somewhere other than on the BNP forum or Gri££ins imagination.
It'll never happen. They'll have to prove whatever they claimed actually happened and that it was caused by the leaked list. Impossible really.
Yes it will happen. Because the police have phone numbers (some idiots forgot to bar them) and witnesses of some of the attacks. People like teachers and soldiers are not worried now because they are allowed to be members.
How much does that work out per name?
Comments by the Judge are interesting. The fact that Mr S is not working is typical of their hypocrisy over 'foreigners taking our benefits'. However, the judge is slightly out of order in referring to living off British people as to be fair to Single he may well have worked (engineer?)and paid contributions.
The result is hardly what the BNP were hoping for. As for civil action, the first commenter is right.
"They should have given him £200 for the laughs he gave us lot."
Too right. It was great fun.
Hey, you're famous. Check out the article "Dole bludger fined for BNP leak" on the Register.
Dole bludger! LOL So rude. :D
Hey sick "Horse Shagging Porn Lover" John Walker, people lose their jobs over bestiality on their computers also!!!
From the Indie "Nick Griffin lodged a complaint with Dyfed-Powys police, his local force, on the grounds that publishing the list breached human rights and data protection laws"
I wonder if he'll report Redwatch at any point.
One law for one and another law for another - the BNP approves of Redwatch.
On Redwatch, pictures as well as contact details are shown, and the language of violence and hate ("race traitors must de dealt with") plus imagery of nooses, suggests murder and death.
The BNP membership list on the other hand, was pure and simple just a list of names, some innacurate and out of date, and in no-way called for acts of violence to be taken against BNP racists.
This is the difference that most commentators in the tabloid media have failed to overlook.
"Hey, you're famous. Check out the article "Dole bludger fined for BNP leak" on the Register."
Woo-hoo. You'll be on telly soon. ;)
The Leeds teachers who were firebombed have most surely got a case to answer for against Redwatch's editor "Watty" Watmough.
Then there was the Liverpool anti-BNP activist, real victims not the Cyclopsian imagined victimhood of the BNP members list).
So why the hell hasn't Watty been arrested and charged with inciting violence and attempted murder?
Is it indeed true that Watmough gets regular ("ready to spend") retainers from Special Branch in an unmarked envelope in his local Weatherspoons near the Leeds Merrion Centre???
Wouldn't it be nice to see someone sue Griffin and co for allowing the list to be stolen in the first place? No encryption, no protection, nobody responsible within the BNP for data protection. Dear me, it's one rule for one...
Why wasn't John Walker prosecuted over the horse pornography? Indecent pictures of cute little ponies being molested by sicko perverts like the ones John Walker downloads from the internet can fetch stiff jail sentences far greater than the BNP's info link.
BNP bigwigs are untouchables, posibly because of official state approval. Matt is okay to find guilty because he is no longer a member of the party.
Yes indeed! John Walker who has a fetish for horse porn, having downloaded it onto the bnp computers and yet for this co-called "joke", and has never been punished for this depraved act with so much as a fine or a caution.
Read into this what you like, peeps!
John Walker should have been prosecuted for his bestiality videos and pictures according to the law: -
Possession of extreme pornographic images: -
(1) It is an offence for a person to be in possession of an extreme pornographic image.
(2) An “extreme pornographic image” is an image which is both—
(a) pornographic, and
(b) an extreme image.
(3) An image is “pornographic” if it is of such a nature that it must reasonably be assumed to have been produced solely or principally for the purpose of sexual arousal.
(4) Where (as found in the person’s possession) an image forms part of a series of images, the question whether the image is of such a nature as is mentioned in subsection (3) is to be determined by reference to—
(a) the image itself, and
(b) (if the series of images is such as to be capable of providing a context for the image) the context in which it occurs in the series of images.
(5) So, for example, where—
(a) an image forms an integral part of a narrative constituted by a series of images, and
(b) having regard to those images as a whole, they are not of such a nature that they must reasonably be assumed to have been produced solely or principally for the purpose of sexual arousal,
the image may, by virtue of being part of that narrative, be found not to be pornographic, even though it might have been found to be pornographic if taken by itself.
(6) An “extreme image” is an image which—
(a) falls within subsection (7), and
(b) is grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character.
(7) An image falls within this subsection if it portrays, in an explicit and realistic way, any of the following—
(a) an act which threatens a person’s life,
(b) an act which results, or is likely to result, in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals,
(c) an act which involves sexual interference with a human corpse, or
(d) a person performing an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal (whether dead or alive),
and a reasonable person looking at the image would think that any such person or animal was real.
(8) In this section “image” means—
(a) a moving or still image (produced by any means); or
(b) data (stored by any means) which is capable of conversion into an image within paragraph (a).
(9) In this section references to a part of the body include references to a part surgically constructed (in particular through gender reassignment surgery).
(10) Proceedings for an offence under this section may not be instituted—
(a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions; or
(b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
Read more: http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1aa58-illegal-download-bestiality#ixzz0PrRLFMMT
Mark Collette's child abuse, John walker's horse porn, etc.
Why weren't these sick immoral high-ranking BNP basterds arrested?
Abused children, molested animals, it's all a big joke down at the BNP.
Talk about evil minds!
Barnes advice is (again) wholly misconceived. I doubt whether either Single or Graham have any assets. Sure, aggrieved BNP members may get CCJ's but against penniless defendants they're worthless & effectively unenforceable. Any one stupid enough to follow Barnes counsel will lose their court fee.
Graham and Single are still Nazis.
They may have done us a favour, but they did this to further themselves in the movement.
That the gun-toting slapper is up the duff to her violent Nazi boy friend again causes me to feel no sympathy for the two of them whatsoever.
It was an act done to bring the BNP to further extremes and people should be mindful of that if they think that these two are suddenly fans of the progressive movement.
Yes I must agree John Walker should have been thrown out of the BNP for having FARM SEX DVDs on is bnp Lap Top.
laugh but laugh we here richard and tania lumby have been sacked from brum BNP ? not surprising these pair of alcoholics and drug takers have been fleecing members like mad let alone the party especially O.A.P.folk for quite a few quid that west midlands fraud unit has been called in by a concerned pensioner.Griffin and Darby will be mad that crooks have taken over what they set out to do.
That one of the "rebels" should be found guilty plus Trevor Phillips' ill advised legal move against the BNP will for the foreseeable future cement Gri££in's place as chairman.
Probably has helped unify the fractious BNP as well.
Weird really as I was convinced it was a Gri££in/Colett publicity stunt, cannot see what Sadie and Single could get out of it or how it would bolster their rebellion.
The paltry fine is hardly going to encourage anyone who has a high risk, high profile job to join the BNP now, that's if the cavalier way the BNP 'guards' its members details had not already dissauded them.
10,000 members at time of release, maybe 7000 now and less than 500 next year I should not wonder.
How much would Single have been paid to leak the list if he had chosen to punt it around to, what's the expression, "interested parties"?
A darn sight more than £200, None too bright these BNP people
In reviewing when the list was first released I found this:
"Keiron Le-mar, a former soldier who served in Iraq with the Somerset & Cornwall Light Infantry, was appalled to discover that even his Service number was included in the entry. He told The Times that he joined the party while a soldier, although he was aware that the British Army “frowned upon” BNP membership.
“I’m obviously disappointed,” he said.
He added: “I joined the BNP because I feel they are the people that stand up for Britain as a country. I’m not for the racist views.
"To be honest, all I’ve ever got was letters asking for money.” "
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5183833.ece
One of the smarter ex-members, obviously.
Only a fucking pervert would download horse porn.
I see the BNP is telling the judge where he went wrong (according to them) on their site
"By pleading guilty and taking the blame upon himself, Mr Single managed to prevent the charges being confirmed against his wife, and as a result, only he has a criminal conviction under the Data Protection Act.
However, Mr Single never personally had possession of the membership list, as it was only ever entrusted to Miss Graham in her role as group development officer. Therefore, Miss Graham must have given the list to Mr Single."
Lee Barnes is lying about Lancaster Unity again.
"The UAF and Lancaster Unity, who allowed people to put links on their websites to the list, and also supporters of the UAF have been exposed today in court."
Erm, as far as I remember, didn't you specifically state in the original article about the list becoming public that there would be no links to it allowed.
It's all very strange & raises more questions than it answers. Single hid the crucial evidence (1 laptop & 2 memory sticks) in a cereal packet. One would have though he would have the 'nouse' to throw them away?
This whole sorry episode has given the bnp to play the 'betrayal by embittered ex members / victimisd members' narrative. Not a good result.
Completly off-topic, but the fash have hacked the Hope Not Hate site!!
"Completly off-topic, but the fash have hacked the Hope Not Hate site!!"
Cheeky buggers. Still, these things never last long.
Too many anon posts. at least give a name when you post.
Unfortunately, those anon comments become part of the site.
I smell lots of SF peeps.
Completly off-topic, but the fash have hacked the Hope Not Hate site!!
It's back already.
The Hope not hate site is back up.
VERY interesting comments:
The BNP says the dispute within the party started when Single and some of his former colleagues tried to install Mrs Graham-Single as leader and were frustrated because they were unable to make constitutional changes taking power away from the leadership.
Single, on the other hand, claims the party had become entirely focused on making money and had turned in to a "cult" centred on Nick Griffin. He said he wanted to make the party seem more acceptable to mainstream voters and less focused on extreme politics.
Outside court, Single, dressed in a checked shirt and brown pin-striped trousers, said the BNP had become a cult.
He also denied rumours he and his wife were actually members of a socialist organisation who had infiltrated the BNP.
"The BNP at grassroots level has some very good and honest people but I think at the top of the party it's very corrupt," he said.
"It seems to be more to do with about trying to make money than about trying to serve local communities.
"It's turned into a cult where all the members look to one person, that being the party leader, Nick Griffin."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exbnp-man-fined-for-publishing-members-names-1780058.html
There is lots and lots of bollocks being spouted about regarding this case, conspiracies and all manor of things. (It’s great to see that vile nut-job Barnes is doing his nut yet again – hilarious!)
Lets get this into perspective FFS- One ex-BNP member goes ape-shit and pulls some crazy shit with a list, big fucking deal! Aren’t there more important things happening in the world than this? Tomorrows chip paper.
Still not working for me, i'm sure it will be back in a few hours though...
Ah, now it's returned for me :)
Sorry for the scare peeps
The Hope Not Hate blog is still hacked, but the hackers were not political. Actually they were random Latin American script kiddy hackers called the Latin Hack Crew who almost certainly didn't know what Hope Not Hate is.
I think that we should all have a whip-round for poor old Single, after all he has given us a great laugh with this.
£300? Come on, it’ll only take a flash. Ironically, the BNP have been bleating on about how little the fine was while Gri££in is pulling in that kind of money, TAX PAYERS MONEY in expenses before he has even gets his fat arse out of bed every morning. Then the police complain that the case has cost £50k, because Gri££in pushed for there to be arrests! Besides, what’s 50k between friends when you can claim a million from the tax payer for doing fuck all eh Gri££in?
Another excellent story about the BNP set to attack single mothers and ban below the knee skirts......
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/maguire/2009/09/02/bnp-to-attack-unmarried-mothers-next-115875-21640986/
BNP to blame for kidnapping: -
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18918
"Another excellent story about the BNP set to attack single mothers and ban below the knee skirts......"
A bit slow aren't they?
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2009/08/curfews-knee-length-skirts-and-no.html
Just to clarify; the HNH was not hacked by the fash (they wish!)
There was however an attack on the hosting company which affected a number of unrelated sites too.
Unlike certain other people, we have been involved in this business too long not to be prepared for anything like this were it to happen. That is the names and addresses of our suporters will not be appearing on any website near anyone soon.
Over 40 years and still going strong.
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