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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Ben Quinn

Covid denier who posted violent threats against Chris Whitty jailed for five years

Chris Whitty Covid-19 Boris Johnson
Patrick Ruane
Patrick Ruane called for an ‘IRA playbook’ to be implemented after Boris Johnson extended lockdown powers for a further period. Photograph: Metropolitan police

A Covid denier who suggested “whacking” Prof Sir Chris Whitty with a rounders bat has been jailed for five years after being convicted of encouraging terrorism.

Messages posted by Patrick Ruane on social media were described by a judge who sentenced him at the Old Bailey as “extremely dangerous” during a volatile time.

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