Man Narrowly Avoids Jail After Threats to Kill Rupa Huq
Ozgay Chevat left MP voicemails containing racist abuse
Rupa Huq
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October 30, 2024
A 50-year-old from Acton has been told that he was very close to being sent to jail after being found guilty of threatening to kill and racially abusing his local MP, Rupa Huq.
Ozgay Chevat of Horn Lane left the Ealing Central and Acton MP 16 voicemails in less than twelve hours on 19 March this year.
Starting just after midnight he called repeatedly and as well as threatening to kill her and her family left a string of racist insults in the messages.
Chevat was told by the Deputy Chief Magistrate at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this Wednesday that his case needed to be viewed in the context of other MPs who have been murdered and that his actions were close to the threshold that would have required incarceration.
He had previously pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment with fear of violence on 27 August. He represented himself at the hearing and claimed that he deeply regretted what he had done and was experiencing a severe mental health episode when he made the calls.
A victim impact statement from the MP was presented to the court in which she said, “I was shaken with the contents and I have not properly processed these threats.
“This has shocked our office and although I have in the past received threatening messages, this is on a different level and is far more serious.”
Chevat was given a 16 week jail term suspended for 18 months and is required to do and 150 hours of unpaid work. In addition he must undertake up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity and pay £213 in costs.
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