Pensioner sent ‘vile’ letters to Muslim MP

A SHETLAND pensioner who admitted anonymously sending “vile” letters to MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh about her faith will learn his fate in June.

David Crozier, of 8 Smuggabank, Mossbank, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to sending messages containing offensive and abusive comments aggravated by religious prejudice from his home between 23 May and 26 May last year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie opened by highlighting the 68 year old’s apparent “eccentricity”, saying that he was a “somewhat reclusive” man who “doesn’t entertain modern technology”.

The fiscal continued saying that the MP’s high profile attracted Crozier into writing to her.

Ahmed-Sheikh, a practicing Muslim, has been elected to represent the Ochil and South Perthshire constituency in May last year.

He said the SNP politician was used to receiving offensive comments in relation to her job and faith – particularly on social media – but Crozier’s “rambling” messages were from a “different league”.

The woman was left “frightened” by the “vile hatred” contained in the letters and was fearful that she may be attacked, the fiscal said.

There was no suggestion that Crozier would take things to a physical level, but “she didn’t know that”.

“He corresponds obsessively to a diverse range of people on a diverse range of topics,” Mackenzie added, citing possible “psychological” issues.

Defence agent Tommy Allan suggested that Sheriff Philip Mann could consider obtaining social work reports.

Unsure of how to deal with the case at the time, Sheriff Philip Mann called for reports to be prepared and adjourned the case until 8 June, with Crozier’s bail continued.