Man jailed for attack fuelled by 'web rage'

Published on Saturday 18 November 2006 01:34

A MAN was jailed at the Old Bailey yesterday for Britain's first web-rage attack on another internet user.

Paul Gibbons traced John Jones after they exchanged insults in a chatroom. He was armed with a pickaxe handle and was with a man with a machete.

Gibbons, 47, of south London, admitted he attacked Mr Jones, 43, in December 2005 after months of exchanging abuse with him via an internet chatroom dedicated to discussing Islam.

London's Central Criminal Court heard that Gibbons had "taken exception" to Mr Jones after he alleged that Gibbons had been "interfering with children".

After several more verbal and written exchanges, during which Mr Jones threatened to track down Gibbons and give him a severe beating, Gibbons and a friend went to his victim's house in Essex.

Mr Jones himself was armed with a knife, but Gibbons seized it from him, held it to his throat and "scratched" him across the neck, the court was told.

Gibbons, who, the court heard, had previous convictions for "violent offences", pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

He was jailed for two and a half years.