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April Jones: Sam Busby given suspended sentence for Facebook posts April Jones: Sam Busby given suspended sentence for Facebook posts
(35 minutes later)
A man who posted offensive comments on Facebook about missing five-year-old April Jones has been given a six week suspended sentence.A man who posted offensive comments on Facebook about missing five-year-old April Jones has been given a six week suspended sentence.
Sam Busby, 18, of Macintyre Road, Worcester, admitted sending a grossly offensive public electronic communication.Sam Busby, 18, of Macintyre Road, Worcester, admitted sending a grossly offensive public electronic communication.
Worcester Magistrates Court also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and gave him a curfew. Worcester Magistrates' Court also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and gave him a curfew.
Busby deleted his Facebook page shortly after the comments in October. Busby told the BBC his postings were "a stupid thing to do".
The chair of the magistrates said his actions could have caused "an immense amount of distress" to April Jones' family at a very sensitive time. The court heard he deleted his Facebook page shortly after posting the comments in October.
'Deeply ashamed'
The chair of the magistrates bench said his actions could have caused "an immense amount of distress" to April Jones' family at a very sensitive time.
April was last seen in a street near her home in Machynlleth, Powys, on 1 October.
Mark Bridger, 46, has been charged with her murder.
The prosecution told the court that Busby's Facebook page could be viewed by anyone.The prosecution told the court that Busby's Facebook page could be viewed by anyone.
The defence argued that he was not aware of this and had made a mistake and was "deeply ashamed of his actions". The defence said he had not been aware of that, adding that he had made a mistake and was "deeply ashamed of his actions".
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Busby said: "I now realise what I said wasn't funny and it was a stupid thing to do - I would like to apologise to anyone I've offended."
He said his sentence was "fair" as other people have gone to prison for sending offensive messages.
The court put him under a curfew between 19:00 and 07:00 GMT for eight weeks.
His sentence was suspended for 18 months.