The word "joke" appeared nowhere in the title or story. He's being prosecuted under section 127 of the Communications act: "The Communications Act 2003 sectio

The word "joke" appeared nowhere in the title or story. He's being prosecuted under section 127 of the Communications act: "The Communications Act 2003 section 127 covers the sending of improper messages. Section 127(1)(a) relates to a message etc that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character and should be used for indecent phone calls and emails. Section 127(2) targets false messages and persistent misuse intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; it includes somebody who persistently makes silent phone calls (usually covered with only one information because the gravamen is one of persistently telephoning rendering separate charges for each call unnecessary). [...] Section 127 can be used as an alternative offence to such crimes for example as hate crime (including race, religion, disability, homophobic, sexual orientation, and transphobic crime), hacking offences, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, amongst others. " http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#an11 http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#...