Bishop Auckland man jailed for threats to murder MP Sam Rushworth
A man who made repeated "vile" threats to murder his MP has been jailed for one and a half years.Benjamin Clarke, 31, bombarded Sam Rushworth with abuse online before threatening to burn the Bishop Auckland MP's house down with the Labour politician inside, Teesside Crown Court heard.Mr Rushworth said he initially wanted his tormentor to get help for his obvious mental health issues but, fearing Clarke's ongoing "hatred" and the recent killings of other MPs, had had to boost his and his family's security.Having been deemed "dangerous", Clarke, who admitted making threats to kill and sending offensive communications, will also have to serve a further 18 months on extended licence.
Clarke first contacted Mr Rushworth, who had been elected in the 2024 general election, on Facebook in the aftermath of the riots following the murder of three girls in Southport, prosecutor Susan Hurst said.Starting on 1 August, Clarke sent direct messages to the MP calling him abusive terms and blaming Mr Rushworth and the government for the violence, the court heard.
Clarke, of Durham Street in Bishop Auckland, escalated to threats, telling Mr Rushworth: "I can't wait until your next public appearance, you'll be lucky to leave in one piece."The MP reported the threat to Durham Police but asked officers to visit Clarke and give him a warning rather than prosecute him, the court heard.But the abusive comments about Mr Rushworth did not stop and on 17 September, Clarke told a social worker he would "smash [the MP's] head off the pavement until he dies," adding he would firebomb Mr Rushworth's office or home and block the doors so he could stand outside and hear his victim's screams, the court heard.Asked if he actually meant to carry out the threats, Clarke said he was "going to do it and it's just a matter of time", the court heard.
The social worker reported the comments to police and Clarke was arrested, telling officers he had received no support for his mental health issues and it was the "political landscape where he lives which was causing him concern", Ms Hurst said.Clarke told police he had no political allegiances but had a "personal grievance" against Mr Rushworth, before adding he had not intended to cause any harm and his comments were because he was "desperate for help".Having been released on bail, on 27 February Clarke called emergency services to report he was having thoughts of suicide and self-harm, Ms Hurst said.As paramedics tried to help him, Clarke told them Mr Rushworth had "ruined his life", said he "could kill" the MP and mentioned burning down his home.Clarke said he would harm Mr Rushworth's wife as well and showed "considerable knowledge" about the MP's home life, Ms Hurst said. In his ongoing "diatribe", Clarke said if he was sent to prison he would kill the MP and then himself, the court heard.The comments were reported to police and Clarke was arrested again, making no comment in his interviews.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Rushworth said he did not know whether Clarke was "capable" of following through on the threats but it was apparent he had a "strong and irrational hatred" for the MP.Mr Rushworth said he bore "no ill will" towards Clarke, adding: "I have tried at every step to balance the needs for security with compassion for a man I deem to be mentally unwell."But, Mr Rushworth added, Clarke had seemed to "double down" on his hatred and it had become "increasingly clear" he "had a fixation to kill me for reasons only he knows".He said he had had to boost security at his home and his wife and children had been majorly affected by the threats.Mr Rushworth said he liked to be open and accessible to people, regularly holding meetings with constituents and attending events, but, in light of the murders of MPs such as Jo Cox and David Amess, he had to have have security guards with him.
'Democracy would be eroded'
Mr Justice Cotter said Clarke's "vitriolic" messages and threats were "vile", with Clarke "obsessed with killing" Mr Rushworth causing the MP and his family "very serious harm".The judge condemned people online who had "approved" Clarke's criminality and made "highly inappropriate comments" on his hate-filled Facebook posts about the MP.Mr Justice Cotter said legitimate criticism of politicians was an important part of society but "no MP should ever face personal threats, harassment or intimidation", adding the "democracy of this country would be eroded" if people felt unable to work in the "vital public roles".The judge said Clarke was "dangerous" and had "entrenched views" in which he blamed others for his own problems and the country's issues, which he "viewed through a racist lens".A restraining order banning Clarke from contacting the MP or his family, or making any reference to them on social media, was made to last indefinitely.Should Clarke need to contact an MP in future, he would have to clear it with the court first, the judge said.
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