Colchester abuser is jailed under new Online Safety Act

Karn Statham, of Barnadiston Road in Colchester, has been slammed behind bars for  34 weeks after sending “threatening and malicious” messages to a woman.

He was also jailed for intimidating her by visiting her address multiple times despite being asked to leave her alone.

The victim decided to go to the police after threats to her safety escalated on Friday, February 16, before continuing over the weekend.

Barnadiston Road in Colchester (Image: Google)

While interviewing the victim at her address on Monday, February 19, 29-year-old Statham turned up before being arrested and damaging a police vehicle.

He attended Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 21 and admitted to charges of criminal damage and sending communication threatening death or serious harm, which is now a crime under the new Online Safety Act as of October 2023.

The act contains a range of measures intended to improve online safety in the UK, including making the use of social media and messaging platforms to send threats a specific crime.

As result of their involvement in the arrest and charge, officers from Essex Police have now secured what is one of the first ever convictions under the new law. 

Statham was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison (Image: N/A)

Sergeant Sonia Mirrington-French, of Essex Police’s domestic abuse problem solving team, said: “Statham ignored the wishes of the victim in this case repeatedly, and will now have the opportunity to reflect on his decisions in prison.

“This case was the result of a huge amount of work by DAPST, in particular PCs Robert Kedar, Dan Thurston, Ellie Sheekey, Rebecca Welch and Emma Cornwell.

“We were able to stop him thanks to the reports we received from the victim – if you contact us with incidents of domestic abuse, you will be listened to and you will be supported.”

Statham was also ordered to pay £200 compensation for damage caused and given an 18-month restraining order.