Christopher Spivey who claimed the murder of Lee Rigby was a conspiracy designed to provoke anti-Islamic feelings, has been spared jail.
At a sentencing hearing today, Spivey continued to protest his innocence and stood by his claims.
He was sentenced to a six month prison term suspended for two years.
The judge also made Spivey subject to a restraining order banned from posting on blogs or social media.
Lat month Chelmsford Magistrates court found Spivey guilty of two counts of harassment and two counts of malicious communication against Lee Rigby’s mother, Lyn Rigby, and his sister Sara McClure.
The BBC reports:
Prosecutor Simon Bravey said Fusilier Rigby’s mother, Lyn Rigby, was the first to be alerted to Spivey’s Facebook posts.
In a statement read to the court, Mrs Rigby said she found his claims “extremely disturbing and sick”.
Spivey also posted the family’s home addresses and private photographs and made direct contact with the family.
He contacted Fusilier Rigby’s sister, Sarah McClure and claimed her husband, Rob, also a soldier, and Fusilier Rigby were the same person.
Mrs McClure said this left her fearing that her family could be targeted by extremists.
Spivey made the bizarre claims on a website alongside expressing doubts as to whether the Tunisia beach massacre and the Glasgow bin lorry deaths happened.
Judge Woollard said: “Families are understandably distressed to have lost loved ones and then find themselves subject to these claims.”
Solicitor Miss Williamson, mitigating, said that Spivey did not accept his guilt and plans to appeal against his conviction.
She added: “It may have been unpleasant but it’s not at the most serious end of harassment.”