first ever 'web rage' conviction

Stevie H · October 17, 2006

http://www.metro.co.uk/home/article.html?i...mp;in_page_id=1

Police have warned internet users to guard their identities after a man from Southwark was convicted of Britain's first 'web-rage' attack.

Paul Gibbons, 47, turned up at the home of John Jones, 43, after they exchanged insults on the internet, the Old Bailey heard.

He traced his address after Mr Jones, a father of three children, put personal details about himself online.

Gibbons, a man with a violent past, arrived at the door of the house in Clacton, Essex, with a pickaxe handle and with another man carrying a machete.

Ibitayo Adebayo, prosecuting, told the court Mr Jones had opened the door holding a knife for protection.

He said: 'There was a scuffle on the landing between this defendant and the victim.

'The victim ended up on the floor and was beaten with the pickaxe handle.'

Gibbons had taken the knife away from Mr Jones and was attacking him with it as Mr Jones tried to fight him off, he said.

After Gibbons was arrested, he was found to have boasted about what he was going to do in a chatroom to another user. One message read: 'It went perfectly to plan.'

Gibbons pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was remanded in custody for sentencing on November 7.

Tosh · October 17, 2006

This post is not viewable to guests.