May 25, 2013 11.46 am This story is over 130 months old

Man in Lincoln court over malicious Facebook messages

Six other charges: A local man appeared in a Lincoln court charged with sending malicious Facebook messages following the Woolwich attack.

A local man appeared in a Lincoln court on Saturday charged with sending malicious Facebook messages following the Woolwich attack in which a soldier was killed.

Benjamin Flatters (22) was arrested in Lincoln this week after Lincolnshire Police were notified of malicious messages allegedly sent by him via the social networking website.

He allegedly sent messages described as of a “grossly offensive” nature, directed toward Muslims and Muslim extremists.

At Lincoln Magistrates Court on May 25, the court heard Flatters also missed a court appearance in Boston in February over six other charges in connection with Facebook messages.

The other charges related to allegedly sending messages of a sexual nature to underage girls on the social network, as well as allegedly offering to supply drugs via Facebook.

In mitigation, the court heard Flatters said he was a victim of serious threats of violence, as well as having to deal with a series of family issues.

Flatters is originally from Swineshead, near Boston, in Lincolnshire.

Lincoln Magistrates remanded Benjamin Flatters in custody and refused him bail. He is due to reappear in court in Skegness on May 29.