A Fife man who sent a message to Nicola Sturgeon saying she was going to “face a hanging” for treason has been jailed.
Hugh Docherty, 42, was sent to prison on the day the First Minister announced she was resigning.
Docherty’s drunken e-mail message was apparently triggered by a news report during the Covid restrictions.
His email rant only made it as far as a constituency worker, who contacted the police.
When officers went to his door to investigate the matter days later, Docherty shouted, “She’s going to be hanged for treason.”
A sheriff said such behaviour was becoming widespread and undermined the democratic process by deterring people from standing for public office.
Ms Sturgeon made reference to the “brutality” of modern-day politics in her resignation speech at Bute House.
Docherty previously admitted sending the email making “threats of violence and abusive remarks” on August 27 2021.
He also admitted acting in an aggressive manner, shouting and made offensive comments on September 1 2021 at his home.
Incoherent rant
Docherty, of Croftangry Street, Kelty, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the message was sent from Docherty’s Gmail account to the First Minister’s constituency office in Govanhill.
It was read by an aide and reported to the police.
The full message was garbled and semi-incoherent but stated “you will face a hanging under Scotland law for treason”.
It spoke of someone – presumably Ms Sturgeon – being “corrupt” and “a lieing (sic) cow”.
Two police officers went to Docherty’s home and the door was opened by his mother.
Docherty shouted from inside the house, “Is this about that black cow Sturgeon, she’s going to be hanged for treason.
“She’s lying to us all. You c***s need a warrant. You’re protecting paedophiles.”
Issues during lockdown
Defence solicitor Martin McGuire said his client lives with his mother.
He went on: “The family found lockdown difficult.
“He had taken alcohol and was watching a news broadcast about travel restrictions before sending this.
“It was not part of any ongoing course of action by him on social media or any other platform.
“He’s now taken the decision to abstain from alcohol.”
Undermining democracy
Sentencing, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “It seems to be the case that people feel, if they are aggrieved and alcohol or other substances have been taken, that threats can be issued to persons in public office with impunity.
“It’s quite clear that the sentiment expressed was not a momentary one because you repeated it when the police attended at your door.
“The effect of this type of behaviour undermines the democratic process.
“People are dissuaded from putting their names forward for public office because to do so makes them a target for this sort of behaviour.
“As a result, the democratic process is undermined and perhaps at the end of the day the government of a country is undermined.”
The sheriff pointed out that Docherty has a “significant” record of previous convictions and jailed him for six months.
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