A man with an aristocratic background has been charged with a racially aggravated offence after he sent a “menacing” Facebook post about the woman who took the government to court over Brexit.
Rhodri Colwyn Philipps, a 50-year-old polo-playing viscount, was due to attend court on 4 April after he posted the social media message about Gina Miller last November.
The case has been delayed until 5 May for administrative reasons, but the charge sheet was released on Tuesday.
Otherwise known as the 4th Viscount St Davids, Mr Philipps allegedly threatened Ms Miller last year after she won her case against the government, which forced UK Prime Minister Theresa May to consult both Houses of Parliament before triggering Article 50.
“The fact that anyone feels it is acceptable to threaten my life for asking a legitimate question is totally unacceptable on all levels,” Ms Miller told The Independent.
“I am so grateful to the police and CPS for their professionalism and the seriousness with which they are dealing with such individuals. It is no longer about the medium - social media, letters or phone calls – inciting racial or sexual violence is a vile act and against the law.”
Mr Phillips of Knightsbridge, who has several titles including Lord Hungerford, Lord de Moleyns, and Lord Strange of Knockin, will remain on bail ahead of his first court appearance.
He has reportedly been bankrupt twice and his £3.6 million mansion in Sussex was repossessed by Barclays Bank in 2011.
Ms Miller has hired her own security team to monitor abuse since she won her battle against the government at the Supreme Court.
The police have handed out eight cease and desist notices over the last six months and told Ms Miller they had seen threats such as that she “should be the next Jo Cox”, the Yorkshire MP who was murdered last June.
Ms Miller said her whole life had changed after the Brexit battle, and that she no longer goes on public transport or leaves the house at the weekend.
