Pro-Israeli Activist Who Attacked Respect's George Galloway Trolled His Facebook Page

A pro-Israeli activist, jailed for attacking former Respect MP George Galloway in the street, was fined yesterday for trolling him on facebook – breaching a restraining order.

Former BBC manager Neil Masterson, 40, of Central Drive, Penwortham, Preston, has left the ex-Bradford West MP fearing for his safety every time he leaves the house.

The construction student, who moved back home with his mother after his release from a 16 month sentence pleaded guilty to harassment and breaching the court order on July 30.

“You clearly have an issue with George Galloway, many people have an issue with George Galloway, but because of your previous history you cannot air those views,” Hammersmith Magistrates Court District Judge Shenaugh Bayne told him.

Masteron was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court on November 7, last year and spent another twenty-eight days inside for this breach of parole after armed police swooped on his home.

Prosecutor Mr. Darren Watts said: “The defendant posted a comment on George Galloway's facebook page, which read: 'If the denizens of Bradford West with the help of the, by his own deranged admission, the Zionists find him unbearable to the point of unceremoniously despatching him from office.

'What on God's earth makes him think that the majority of voting Londoners will show him any favour?

'The very fact he's parading his dreadful eminently punchable 'boat' with a tawdry begging bowl is evidence in itself that anyone with money and sense is rightly turned off by his deeply cynical motivations.'

“Mr. Galloway feels the words: 'eminently punchable boat' was a threat and says: 'I am fearful the male will assault me again. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder when I'm out of the house.'”

The probation service told the court the 28 day parole recall was sufficient punishment for the breach of the indefinite restraining order.

His lawyer Mr. Julian Hunt described the offence as a: “single comment, legitimate political comment.

“By putting that comment on George Galloway's facebook page he's spent twenty-eight days in custody.

“Since August, last year when he went cold turkey he's been free of drugs and progressed incredibly well.

“He's found it difficult to get a job since his conviction. He's living with his mother.

“He was arrested at home and his computer and phone were seized and an armed response unit came to his house to arrest him.

“He realises he should not contact George Galloway even if it is on facebook, via this post.”

Masterson was fined £250, ordered to pay a £180 court charge and a £25 victim surcharge.

The original assault hearing, when Masterson admitted inflicting actual bodily harm, was told he had a “pathological loathing” of Galloway and attacked him in a London street while calling him an “anti-semite little man.”

Masterson punched the ex-MP ten times before delivering a “Kung fu kick” during the frenzied assault in Notting Hill.

Masterson - who was wearing a pink t-shirt with an Israel Defence Forces logo when arrested - told police he felt “morally justified” in attacking the MP because he was a “Nazi” with a “shameful” attitude towards Jews.

He had “recently undergone a conversion towards Judaism,” and saw Galloway as a “serpent” and “enemy of Judaism.”