Facebook ‘joker’ found not guilty of inciting riots

Hollie Bentley, 19, posted the message on the social networking site in August with the title “Wakey Riot”, followed by the words “Who’s Up For It?”

It was alleged she was intending to encourage violent disorder in Wakefield, as looting and mayhem gripped other parts of the country during the summer and many British cities were gripped by violence.

But the Recorder of Leeds, Peter Collier, QC, told the jury to find her not guilty after hearing the message was a joke.

Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday Miss Bentley also posted the letters LMFAO on her Facebook page, which stands for Laughing My F****** A*** Off.

The judge told the jurors they could not be sure that at the time the message was posted she intended it to be taken seriously.

Miss Bentley, of Wakefield, was arrested after she created an event on the social networking site. She had invited more than 700 people to the “Wakey Riot” on August 13 and 14.

The jury then listened to a tape recording of Miss Bentley’s police interview, during which she insisted that she had created the event “as a joke.”

The Recorder said to the jury: “On the basis of the evidence, could you say that you are sure that it was not a joke? You must be able to say ‘we are sure it was intended.’

“It seems to me that on this evidence it wouldn’t be a decision that you can reach. I have come to the decision myself that I have to direct you to return a verdict of not guilty.”

Miss Bentley, who is pregnant, created the Facebook event alone in her bedroom on August 9 during what Richard Clews, prosecuting, called “the dark days of summer” in the UK.

Under the heading “Wakey Riot”, the court heard that Miss Bentley added a line which read: “Who’s up for it?” and under that “LMFAO.”

Comments from people invited to the event included one which read: “Hollie, this is stupid. You are just creating trouble for yourself. If I was you I would just delete this event.”

Another read: “I have a better idea. How about we don’t riot and get on with our own lives. I am glad this is a joke, I am travelling from Leeds to Wakefield this weekend and I don’t want to get caught up in s**t like this.”

Around 60 people responded “no” to the invite, while 16 said they would attend.

Five said ‘maybe’, while 691 didn’t reply at all. No riot in Wakefield occurred.

A 16-year-old who received the invite took it seriously and alerted his brother, a policeman, and Miss Bentley was subsequently arrested.

The court heard that when she was arrested she told police: “I started it.”

The jury was played a tape recording of Miss Bentley’s interview with Pc Angelina Shute, during which Miss Bentley said: “I made the Facebook page. I was just messing about.

“I was joking with my friends but I didn’t realise the police would get involved.

“I wish I hadn’t done it now – it’s not funny now.”

Miss Bentley said she only invited around 400 people to the event but someone else with “administrative rights” on the page invited more.

Asked by Pc Shute how she would feel if the riots went ahead in Wakefield, Miss Bentley simply replied: “Awful.”

Miss Bentley, from Hornbeam Avenue, Wakefield, denied encouraging people to commit violent disorder.

The teenager, who is expecting her first child, showed no emotion as she was cleared and was hugged by her father outside the courtroom.

Miss Bentley declined to comment as she left the court with her family.

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