JK Rowling feared for the safety of her family and was left “looking over her shoulder” after an online troll threatened to kill her with a hammer, a court has heard.
Glenn Mullan, 31, recorded “chilling” voice notes in Gaelic about the Harry Potter author and MP Rosie Duffield, and posted them on Twitter in January 2023.
The incident happened after Rowling and Ms Duffield had both publicly backed the UK’s government’s opposition to Scotland’s controversial Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
In the message about the author, Mullan said: “I’m going to kill JK Rowling with a big hammer”, adding: “JK Rowling is so horrible, I hate her so much.”
The following day, he posted a voice note saying he wanted to “kill Rosie Duffield with a big gun”.
Prosecutor Frances McCormack said Ms Rowling had seen the Twitter post but did not understand the Gaelic. However, she learned about the threat through translated online comments and a Reddit article identifying Mullan.
“She has received a large volume of threats from a variety of sources over the past three years”, she said.
“This occasion was more serious because it was an audio clip, and the graphic nature of the threat. She described it as quite chilling.”
Rowling told the court Mullan “seems to pride himself and be proud of himself over the threats of violence he is making”.
Ms McCormack that Ms Rowling has increased her security in the wake of the threat, which she thought was “credible”, and added: “It made her look over her shoulder and worry for the safety of her family and children.”
Ms Duffield, who was the Labour MP for Canterbury, said the threat made her “feel nervous” as she went around her constituency meeting members of the public.
“She feared that someone would act with hostility or violence, causing her great concern”, said Ms McCormack.
“It makes the role of being a representative MP much harder.”
Mullan lost his job in the wake of the incident, the court heard, but has now obtained a new £30,000-a-year job in marketing in Manchester.
His parents were in the public gallery for the sentencing hearing in front of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring.
Details of his personal circumstances were put forward in writing by his lawyer, and were kept secret during the court hearing.
Judge Goldspring referred to paragraphs in the note that he agreed with, without revealing the contents, and said the offending happened in an “isolation context”.
The judge added that Mullan has “strong views about gender equality”, before adding: “Quite appropriately so.”
He sentenced Mullan to eight weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with a 12-month community order, 150 hours of community service, 20 rehab days, and £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge to pay.
“There seems to be a modern phenomenon of people hiding behind a keyboard to threaten, abuse, or harass people in the public eye”, saidthe judge.
“You think Twitter and other social media allow you to say and do what you like, and particularly people in the public eye are fair game.
“Free speech is important but a line has to be drawn in the sand. You know you went well beyond that line.”
The judge said a pre-sentence report set out that Mullan does not pose a danger to the public, and he has a prospect of rehabilitation.
Mullan, of Clyde Road, Manchester, admitted two charges of sending a communication conveying a threatening message.
