SHEFFIELD WOMAN SENTENCED FOR HARROWING ONLINE TROLL CAMPAIGN
A malicious individual from Sheffield, Katie Bell, has been involved in a series of disturbing online trolling campaigns.She began her abusive behavior in 2017 by posting appalling comments on social media regarding a missing person, as heard in Sheffield Crown Court.
Her targeted victims included a woman and her granddaughter, to whom she sent hundreds of vile messages including wishes of death and references to coffins and children's coffins.
She also manipulated a charity owner’s Wikipedia page to falsely declare her husband's death.
The court heard that Bell’s messages contained phrases such as 'die bitch', 'ugly hick bitch', and 'hope someone sets your market stall on fire with your granddaughter in it'.
She sent a disturbing picture of a baby’s coffin with the caption 'For your grandchild'.
Bell frequently posted harmful comments on official police social media profiles, such as 'serves them right' in response to missing persons appeals, and would often re-establish her accounts after being shut down.
Her victim, Tracey Patterson, testified about the profound fear and emotional trauma Bell caused, which led her to avoid leaving her house for 14 months and to shut down her homeless charity after 16 months of abuse.
Bell, working for the Link Community charity, admitted to two counts of stalking involving serious alarm or distress and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
She was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation sessions and 120 hours of unpaid work.
The judge, Recorder Andrew Smith, remarked, 'The person who was bullied has become the bully.
You're not going to do anything like this again I hope.' Mrs.
Patterson urged Bell to become a better person, while her defense argued that Bell was a victim of bullying herself, suffering from physical violence and emotional abuse as a child.
Bell’s actions have significantly impacted her victims' lives, leading to scenes of police intervention and ongoing emotional distress.
