Agreed, it's annoying that people can't comprehend this. The fact here is that it was a deliberate insult and even with free speech it wouldn't have prevented

Agreed, it's annoying that people can't comprehend this. The fact here is that it was a deliberate insult and even with free speech it wouldn't have prevented the government from harassing him. Without free speech? Well that's easy, charge him with felony treason. The law is still enforced, and was originally written in 1848. It doesn't even take a manipulation of the wording of the act to make his life hell. > If any person whatsoever shall, within the United Kingdom or without ... devise, or intend to deprive or depose our Most Gracious Lady the Queen, from the style, honour, or royal name of the imperial crown of the United Kingdom, or of any other of her Majesty’s dominions and countries, or to levy war against her Majesty, within any part of the United Kingdom, in order by force or constraint to compel her to change her measures or counsels ... or to move or stir any foreigner or stranger with force to invade the United Kingdom or any other of her Majesty's dominions or countries under the obeisance of her Majesty, and such ... imaginations, ... or intentions, or any of them, shall express, utter, or declare, by publishing any printing or writing ... or by any overt act or deed, every person so offending shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable ... to be transported beyond the seas for the term of his or her natural life. If they charged him for felony treason. He wouldn't be eligible for bail. He could be held in solitary confinement. It's an indictable offence, which means even dropped it could mar his record for life without it being pardoned. He could be sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for the term. He also might only be allowed a judicial hearing and no jury, meaning luck of the draw. Sorry, but this is a bit of over zealousness to harass a jerk. If anyone actually wanted to destroy him a Felony Treason charge would have done the trick even with a freedom of speech law. So I really don't see how "freedom of speech" factors in here. It's hate speech and already violates a law just for that, free speech is already trumped by that.