Man in court over ‘Punish a Muslim Day’ letters

David Parnham (35) appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged in connection with an investigation into offensive communications.

Parnham, of St Andrews Close, Lincoln, has been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey in London on Friday, June 29.

He has been charged with 14 offences including soliciting to murder, sending a substance with the intention of inducing in a person a belief that it is likely to contain a noxious substance, sending a number of letters conveying a threat intending to cause distress and one count of making a bomb hoax.

Parnham was arrested last Tuesday by Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTP NE) and searches were carried out a Lincoln residential property and an office building.

A CTP NE spokesman said: “A team of specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East, assisted by colleagues across the UK have been working on this investigation.

“We remain grateful for the discretion and support we have had from victims as we try to minimise any further impact of any offensive communications.  

“Now that someone has been charged, we request that people are mindful of anything they post online to avoid comprising the prosecution process in any way.”

He added: “Those affected by hate crime can rest assured that we and our partners take such investigations extremely seriously and are avidly committed to seeking justice in all circumstances.”