{"id":113593,"date":"2025-11-29T16:41:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=113593"},"modified":"2025-11-29T16:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:41:44","slug":"113593","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=113593","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

IT consultant arrested after posing with gun on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n

An IT consultant was arrested by police in Britain after he posted a picture online of himself posing with a\u00a0gun in the US<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jon Richelieu-Booth said he was shocked by the \u201cOrwellian\u201d decision by West Yorkshire Police (WYP) to prosecute him over the social media post.<\/p>\n

The 50-year-old said that on Aug 13 he had posted a picture of himself on LinkedIn holding a shotgun while on a private homestead with friends during a holiday in Florida.<\/p>\n

Mr Richelieu-Booth claims the LinkedIn message contained nothing he considered threatening, with the picture attached to a lengthy post about his day and work activities.<\/p>\n

However, he said that a police officer later visited his home to warn him that concerns had been raised about the post.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told to be careful what I say online and I need to understand how it makes people feel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Richelieu-Booth said he offered to provide officers with proof that the picture of the firearm had been taken while he was in the US but the officers said that was not necessary.<\/p>\n

Mr Richelieu-Booth said two officers then returned to his home shortly after 10pm on Aug 24 and arrested him.<\/p>\n

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A bail document seen by The Telegraph refers to an allegation of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a further allegation of stalking related to a photograph of a house that appeared on his social media.<\/p>\n

He said he was held overnight in a cell before being interviewed.<\/p>\n

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Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was initially released on bail until late October.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

He alleges that police officers then visited his property on three further occasions before he was re-arrested in October for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. However, that charge was later dropped.<\/p>\n

Public order offence<\/h2>\n

The firearms and stalking allegations were also dropped but Mr Richelieu-Booth was charged with a public order offence relating to a different social media post.<\/p>\n

He claims not to know which post he was being charged in relation to and does not recall being questioned by police about any specific post made on that date.<\/p>\n

He had been due to appear at Bradford magistrates\u2019 court on Nov 25 charged with an offence of displaying \u201cany writing\/sign\/visible representation with intent to cause harassment\/alarm or distress\u201d. However, that charge was also later dropped, he said.<\/p>\n

Unable to work<\/h2>\n

Mr Richelieu-Booth claimed he has been left unable to do his job as a self-employed IT contractor because the force seized his phone and computers.<\/p>\n

Describing his ordeal as \u201cmassive overreach\u201d, Mr Richelieu-Booth added: \u201cAnybody should be allowed to say anything they wish, as long as it\u2019s not hateful.<\/p>\n

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