SOCIAL media users have been warned about posting comments about legal cases which could land them in trouble.
South Yorkshire Police has this week issued advice to Facebook users about the legal pitfalls of commenting on active cases, warning they may find themselves in contempt of court.
Posts by social media users are subject to the same strict laws that apply to journalists and the media. That means anyone commenting about a case or defendant in a way that could prejudice a fair trial could be prosecuted for contempt of court and imprisoned.
South Yorkshire Police issued the advice via its Facebook page following several users who may have found themselves in contempt after posting comments on some of the force's stories about active cases.
One example of conjecture recently was comments made by users about Ian Birley and Helen Nichols who were charged with the murder of Wombwell man John Gogarty.
Comments that can lead to contempt have included:references to someone's previous convictions;statements about a person's character;evidence seeming to link a person directly to the crime of which they have been accused;other suggestions that the person is guilty.
