Man who posted offensive comments about soldiers sentenced

Kirklees Magistrates Court heard this morning how Nathalie Taylor, the mother of Dewsbury soldier Corporal Jake Hartley, was one of the people upset by Azhar Ahmed’s Facebook post.

In it, Ahmed criticised the public’s reaction to the deaths of six soldiers, including Cpl Hartley, who were caught in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in March.

In September Ahmed was found guilty of sending an offensive message on a public website and this morning was given a two year supervised community order.

District Judge Jane Goodwin said: “The message you sent was a derogatory, offensive and defamatory remark.

“With freedom of speech comes responsibilities and you failed to live up them.”

Ahmed, 20, of Fir Avenue, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, must complete a 50 day course, 240 hours unpaid work and pay £300 costs.

For the full story and reaction see this week’s Reporter.