A 49-year-old Devon man sent a black Labour MP a grossly offensive message on X using 'explicitly racist language with hateful rhetoric'. Daniel Thornton, of Brixham, admitted sending the communication from Plymouth in January 2025 to Dawn Butler, the 56-year-old Labour MP for Brent East when he appeared at Exeter magistrates court. Defence lawyer John Smethurst said Thornton used 'appalling language' which was 'entirely offensive and unjustified'.