Mikaeel Kular: Racist comment soldier avoids jail

A soldier has avoided jail after he admitted posting a “disgusting” racist comment on Facebook in relation to the death of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular.

Mikaeel Kular. Picture: Contributed

Grenadier Guardsman Warren Butler, 19, of Carlisle, Cumbria, pleaded guilty to a charge of improper use of a communications network.

The 19-year-old had posted on the social network site: “F****** LOL to that P*** found dead, One down many more to go.”

Serena Edwards, prosecuting, told Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court that Butler, based at Aldershot, Hampshire, had drunk ten bottles of lager when he wrote the comment. She said that after the comment went viral, Butler feared for the well-being of his family and contacted police.

Ms Edwards said: “He said that he is from a racist background but not actively racist, he stated if he knew the consequences he wouldn’t have posted.”

Sentencing Butler to 16-weeks’ jail, suspended for 18 months ,and 250 hours community service, District Judge Philip Gillibrand said: “Everybody has said what a despicable thing this was to do, I agree wholeheartedly.”

Mikaeel’s body was found in woodland in Fife on 17 January. His mother, Rosdeep Kular, 33, of Edinburgh has been charged with his murder.