Gay Today: World

£500 Fine Imposed for Malicious Threats to Peter Tatchell

Compiled by GayToday

Peter Tatchell

London, England--Magistrates at Tower Bridge court in London imposed a £500 fine and £55 costs on Mr. Paul Dungan, on Monday, November 30, after he pleaded guilty to sending malicious threats to gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell earlier this year.

Mr. Dungan was convicted under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

It is the first time that anyone has ever been prosecuted for any of the hundreds of threats and attacks on Mr. Tatchell and his flat over the last 20 years.

"The officers involved were brilliant", said Peter Tatchell. "Unlike some officers in the past, they pursued their investigation with total commitment until they caught the perpetrator and bought him to justice. They gave me great support throughout the case.

"I hope this successful prosecution will encourage other victims to report harassment to the police, and that it will act as a deterrent to hate-mongers who target gay people and other minorities.

"My only regret is that the magistrate did not also impose a community service order. It might have helped educate Mr. Dungan out of his bigotry if he had been required to so some voluntary work for a lesbian and gay charity.

"Mr. Dungan's letter was very threatening and menacing. It suggested that I should be killed. I was concerned that he might follow up his threat with an attempt to assault or even kill me.

"Over the last 20 years, I have suffered many hundreds of homophobic threats and assaults because of my campaigning for gay human rights. Assailants have attacked me outside my flat--and in the street--with sticks, bottles, rocks and knives. I've had bricks through my windows, attempts to burn down my home, and a bullet through my front door.

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"Mr. Dungan's letter was in response to an article that I wrote in The Observer in July, calling for gay human rights.

"Although his letter was anonymous, the police were able to identify his address from the indentations of an earlier letter written on the same notepad", said Peter Tatchell.