A British man who was jailed after he shared images of himself posing with guns during a US holiday has admitted he doesn’t “feel safe” in the UK anymore.
IT consultant Jon Richelieu-Booth, 50, posted the “light-hearted holiday photos” taken at a Florida homestead on August 13 to LinkedIn.
However, the pictures from the trip, meant to celebrate his 50th birthday, quickly sparked a 13-week ordeal which saw him jailed.
The saga began with a visit from West Yorkshire Police officers with a caution about online content and its potential impact on others’ feelings.
However, this quickly escalated to his arrest on August 24, with bail documentation revealing accusations of firearm possession intended to frighten and stalking charges concerning a property photograph on social media.
Following his initial release on bail until late October, police visited his home three additional times.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “It’s just absolutely Orwellian… I’ve been persecuted by the police over an innocuous post.
“I just want to get out of this country. I don’t feel welcome anymore.
The 50-year-old endured a 13-week ordeal after sharing the pictures to LinkedIn
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LINKEDIN / JON RICHELIEU-BOOTH
“I don’t know what’s next. It feels like my entire life, my livelihood has been tanked by the police,” he told The People’s Channel.
Since the 50-year-old has admitted his faith in British law enforcement had been shaken.
“You’re brought up to respect the police because you think they’re there to protect you and your family. I was brought up by my parents to believe in truth and justice,” he explained.
The experience left Mr Richelieu-Booth feeling completely jaded, with his trust in British law enforcement totally shaken.
Mr Richelieu-Booth admitted ‘I don’t feel safe in this country anymore’ after the police action
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LINKEDIN / JON RICHELIEU-BOOTH“And as soon as you realise that that’s not the case, that trust is instantly corroded,” the 50-year-old despaired.
Mr Richelieu-Booth’s experience had also caused him serious mental anguish, revealing: “I’ve not slept for weeks.
“I lie awake dreading a knock at my door for whatever they’ve made up this week,” he said.
The ordeal was so trying, the Briton admitted it had made him feel “unwelcome” and “unsafe” in the country he called home.
“To be honest, I don’t feel welcome in this country anymore. I don’t feel safe in this country anymore,” he told the Daily Mail.
The pictures that began the weeks-long saga showed him posing with several firearms while visiting a private island in Florida.
He could be seen holding a hunting rifle, an AR-15, a shotgun, a 9mm Glock and a Taurus Judge revolver.
Mr Richelieu-Booth, who has no criminal record, insisted he had immediately offered to prove the photos were taken in the US.
The IT consultant claims the complaint behind the police action was lodged by a contractor who owes him a five-figure sum.
He conceded a photo of the individual’s home had been posted by a business partner to his LinkedIn page.
Charges relating to firearms and stalking were dropped, but Mr Richelieu-Booth was charged with a public order offence relating to another social media post from August.
While the 50-year-old claims he has not been informed of the specific post, he said the only one made that day involved asking the “delinquent” contractor to “do the right thing”.