A man from Cornwall has been jailed after a court found he repeatedly sent abusive and threatening emails to the office of the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner.
Sentencing at Truro Crown Court
Paul Hughes, aged 55 and of Notter, Cornwall, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Truro Crown Court after admitting a communication offence and breaching a restraining order linked to a separate matter at a Plymouth school.
The court heard that between March and July 2024 Hughes sent around 300 emails which escalated in abuse and threat. Staff in the police and crime commissioner’s office told the court they were fearful for their safety as a result of some of the messages.
"burn her alive in her office"
Prosecutors also said Hughes had contacted the NHS, his local MP and a number of other organisations as part of the campaign of messages. Many of the emails advanced the view that Covid had been mismanaged and that vaccines caused harm.
Court view and restrictions
Judge Simon Carr, who imposed the sentence, noted that while members of the public are entitled to robust expression of their views, sending aggressive and threatening communications to public figures is not a right. Alongside the prison term, Hughes was made subject to a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the police and crime commissioner, Alison Hernandez.
- Defendant: Paul Hughes, 55, of Notter, Cornwall
- Offences: communication offence; breach of restraining order
- Emails sent: approx. 300 between March–July 2024
- Sentence: 18 months imprisonment
- Additional order: five-year restraining order
Local impact
The case underlines the challenges faced by public servants and their teams when confronted with threatening correspondence. The police and crime commissioner’s office plays a public-facing role, and staff safety became a material concern in court. The five-year contact ban and custodial term are intended both to protect individuals and to deter similar behaviour.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hearing location | Truro Crown Court |
| Period of offending | March–July 2024 |
| Other bodies contacted | NHS, local MP and other organisations |
No additional details about immediate threats to named individuals were disclosed beyond the content of the emails heard in court. The restraining order also reflects the court’s view of ongoing risk to the commissioner’s office.
Members of the public concerned about similar behaviour can report threatening communications to their local police force. The case serves as a reminder that aggressive or threatening contact with public officials can lead to criminal prosecution and custodial sentences.
