http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3181523/Deeply-unpleasant-Lee-Rigby-troll-convicted-harassing-murdered-soldier-s-family-conspiracy-theories.html#ixzz3hUJpphlj'Deeply unpleasant' Lee Rigby troll is convicted of harassing the murdered soldier’s family with conspiracy theories
Chris Spivey, 52, from Rochford, claimed 25-year-old soldier did not exist
Self-styled journalist said family had doctored photos to include the fusilier
He also claimed the murder was conspiracy to incite anti-Islamic messages
Spivey is now facing jail for harassing Fusilier Rigby's mother Lyn and half sister Sara
By Steph Cockroft for MailOnline
Published: 17:11, 31 July 2015 | Updated: 18:04, 31 July 2015
Chris Spivey, 52, from Rochford, Essex, is facing jail after claiming the murder of Lee Rigby was staged
A 'deeply unpleasant' conspiracy theorist who claimed the murder of Lee Rigby was staged has been found guilty of harassing the soldier's family.
Chris Spivey, 52, made a string of outrageous claims about the soldier, including that his family were involved in a conspiracy with M15 to incite anti-Islamic propaganda.
The court heard how former tattooist and self-styled internet journalist even claimed that Fusilier Rigby did not exist and that his relatives had doctored their family pictures.
He also admitted in court that he believes the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, the 7/7 London bombings and last month's terror attack in Tunisia, in which 30 Britons were killed, were all staged.
Today, Spivey, from Rochford, Essex, was warned that he faces jail after being found guilty of harassing the fusilier's mother Lyn and his half sister Sara McClure.
The court had been told how Spivey had started his campaign against Mrs Rigby the day after her son was brutally killed on the streets of Woolwich on May 22, 2013.
The 25-year-old was off duty when he was attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale.
The killers told passers-by they had murdered a soldier to avenge the deaths of Muslims by the British armed forces. They have since been jailed for life.
Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard how Spivey made the bizarre accusations on his website where he regularly publishes opinions about world events.
Tony Abell, prosecuting, said Spivey had published material which was 'quite menacing and deeply unpleasant' and that his actions - including publishing personal family details - had left Mrs Rigby and Miss McClure fearing for their safety.
In a statement, Mrs Rigby said she had been left feeling 'helpless' and had 'cried for weeks' after he published her home address online.
And Miss McClure said in a statement: 'I now do not feel safe in my house and I want to move. He had put the rest of us at risk.'
The court heard how Spivey also alleged published a spoof front page from The Sun newspaper, with the headline 'Woolwich attack was staged: Lee Rigby doesn't exist'. He later told police that he believed Fusilier Rigby was not in the Army 'and if he was, he was a potato peeler at best.'
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Chris Spivey, 52, from Rochford, Essex, allegedly made a string of outrageous claims about Lee Rigby, including that his murder was a hoax
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The court heard how the tattoo artist and self-styled internet journalist (right) claimed that Fusilier Rigby (left) did not exist and that his relatives had doctored their family pictures to include the 25-year-old
Spivey, who denied the charges, claimed he was doing nothing more than 'expressing his opinions'. The father-of-one told the court today he was not aware the grieving family were aware of his website claims until he was arrested.
He said: 'I was not targeting anybody. I have never sent them any material or anything like that. I did not know they was looking at my website.'
On claiming the Rigby death was a hoax, he said: 'It's solely my opinion. I don't ask anyone to take my word for it.'
But the court had heard how, during a police interview when he was first arrested, Spivey admitted writing the posts which appeared on his website.
When he was later asked how he thought his posts would make the Rigby family feel, he said: 'They f****** deserve it. They don't have to read it. I have freedom of speech.'
Spivey claimed on his website that a family photo featured in an interview with Lyn Rigby (pictured) had been altered on Photoshop. He also said he thought the recent Tunisian shootings were staged
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Spivey claimed on his website that a family photo featured in an interview with Lyn Rigby (pictured) had been altered on Photoshop. He also said he thought the recent Tunisian shootings were staged
The former tattooist made the bizarre accusations on his website where he regularly publishes opinions about world events (pictured)
The former tattooist made the bizarre accusations on his website where he regularly publishes opinions about world events (pictured)
He added: 'I don't advertise it. If you know something is going to upset you, you don't read it, do you? If it's wrong, why haven't they sued me for libel? It's not harassment, it's libel isn't it?'
He added: 'The evidence suggests Lyn Rigby didn't give two f**** about her son before he was murdered.'
Spivey did admit sending a Facebook friend request to Miss McClure, claiming he wanted to enter into a dialogue with her about the killings.
'I was hoping she would talk to me and give me her views,' he said.
The court heard he also tried to make contact with Ian Rigby, the dead fusilier's stepfather on Facebook.
During the trial, District Judge Woollard quizzed him about his theories on other major news events, including the recent attack in Tunisia, all of which he suggested were fake.
A group of about half a dozen of his supporters had gathered into the back of the courtroom to listen to the evidence during the two-day trial.
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So, the Daily Mail has proclaimed that Spivey is a troll - what do McCann "sceptics" think about this, and about him and his activities?