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A Brexit-backing councillor who called for Anna Soubry to be executed has pledged to remain in his post, and "let the public" decide his fate.

Richard Alderman - who also called for Theresa May to suffer the same fate and sent racist abuse to Labour MP Diane Abbott - walked free from court after telling a judge, through his lawyer, that regaining UK sovereignty was his primary concern.

The 72-year-old member of Rutland County Council pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2003 Communications Act last week and was given a six-month curfew at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

The court was told how Alderman reacted to Mrs May's handling of Brexit by posting she should be hanged in public for "treason".

The menacing post was written next to a Brexit-related news article in July, three days after Alderman was elected to the county council.

The independent councillor - described in court as "pro-Brexit and anti-immigration" - admitted writing a total of six grossly offensive and menacing posts, including rants directed at shadow home secretary Ms Abbott and Tory MP Ms Soubry.

Opening the facts of the case last week, prosecutor James Bruce told the court the charges related to Facebook posts made between April and July this year.

A post in May and June racially abused Ms Abbott, while a further message written before Alderman's election to Rutland's Oakham South West ward, next to a meme criticising Ms Soubry, read: "Hang, shoot and drown the witch to make sure it's dead."

Offering mitigation for Alderman, defence lawyer Sandeep Kaushal said his client was ashamed and wished to apologise for the "ill-thought" comments, and the effect on those mentioned in the posts.

Alderman felt "back-tracking" since the 2016 Leave vote was a major cause for concern, Mr Kaushal told the court, adding: "He has no intention of resigning his post.

"He states that he intends to stand for re-election and let the public decide whether they consider him to be a fit person.

"His primary focus is Oakham South West. It is highly unlikely that this man will ever appear before the courts in such a way again."

Mr Kaushal also told the sentencing judge that he had asked Alderman what his primary concern was, and the councillor had replied: "I just want the UK to regain its sovereignty."

Ordering Alderman to wear an electronic ankle tag to monitor a 7pm-7am curfew, District Judge David Robinson told the councillor: "It is your right to express strongly-held views over the internet.

"However the 2003 Communications Act sets limits on that right. You accept that between April 22 and July 15 you crossed that threshold six times.

"You advocated support for killing by execution and assassination (of Mrs May and Ms Soubry) because you disagreed with their views.

"You did so with the recent memory of the killing of a British Member of Parliament. I am satisfied you intended the comments to be grossly offensive and of a menacing character.

"I am told you have deep regret for them."

The judge, who heard that Alderman has a lung condition, arthritis and diabetes and was not fit for unpaid work, said he saw no reason to depart from sentencing guidelines governing the offences.

The judge told Alderman: "The offences are serious enough to warrant a community order and curfew requirement."

Alderman declined to comment as he left the court building.

Rutland County Council said Alderman will be referred to its standards committee, which will investigate and review his actions against its code of conduct.

The authority said: "The council is unable to provide further comment until the standards committee has concluded its investigation."