Troll avoids jail for email to MP Mensch

An internet “troll” who sent a threatening email to a Conservative MP was banned today in Britain from contacting a host of celebrities – including Lord Sugar.

Frank Zimmerman escaped jail by a whisker when a district judge suspended a 26-week prison sentence for two years after he sent an offensive email to Corby MP Louise Mensch.

The bearded 60-year-old, who was taken to court by police today after being arrested for failing to attend his sentencing last week, was given the suspended sentence, ordered to pay costs and made subject of a restraining order.

The order – until further notice – bans the agoraphobic from contacting a string of well-known people.

The list includes Mrs Mensch, her businessman husband Peter, and Mrs Mensch’s ex-husband, property developer Anthony LoCicero.

Lord Sugar, the Amstrad businessman and star of hit TV show 'The Apprentice', was named on the restraining order, as was Terence Blacker, a columnist with the Independent newspaper and Zimmerman’s former neighbour in London.

Also listed was General Sir Mike Jackson – once head of the British Army – and David Petraeus, former US Army commander in Iraq and Afghanistan and now director of the CIA.