Jez Stracey-Kemp, a 40-year-old from Wolverhampton, has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to sending a barrage of racist and homophobic text messages to a West Midlands Police officer. The offences occurred between March 31 and April 10, when Stracey-Kemp bombarded the officer's work mobile phone with abusive messages and calls, despite being explicitly asked to cease contact.
Details of the Abuse
Dudley Magistrates' Court heard that the messages included calling the officer 'PC p**** face' and using racial slurs. The officer, in a victim statement, said: "Nobody should be subject to racist or homophobic abuse." The court was told that Stracey-Kemp's frustration stemmed from a delay in the return of his seized phones, which he perceived as "an injustice."
Court Outcome
Stracey-Kemp was given a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £150 in compensation and made subject to a restraining order. The magistrate told him: "You cannot use language like that about anybody, even if you get frustrated."
Defence Statement
In mitigation, Stracey-Kemp's defence solicitor explained that his client "felt an injustice" over the delay in returning his phones and was prone to "sudden mood swings." The court acknowledged the explanation but emphasised the unacceptability of the language used.
Impact on the Officer
The officer, who has not been named, described the impact of the abuse in a victim impact statement. The court noted that such targeted harassment causes significant distress and undermines the work of police officers. The case highlights the seriousness with which the judiciary treats hate-related offences against public servants.
