A HARLOW has been charged under the Communications Act 2003 in connection with an offensive social media comment directed at Harlow MP Robert Halfon.

Kier Ashby, 21, unemployed, of Rushes Mead, Harlow, was charged yesterday, Tuesday June 28, with sending by means of a public electronic communications network a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. It relates to a message posted on Twitter on June 23, 2016.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on July 13.

West Local Policing Area Chief Superintendent Sean O’Callaghan said: “While people in public office attract comments on social media on a daily basis, the public must expect abusive or offensive messages that relate to violence to be dealt with robustly.”