A WOMAN from Conwy who made a series of “horrific” posts on Facebook has been spared jail.

Rosemary Williams, 28, of Lletty, Trefriw, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Mold Crown Court today (August 22).

She had previously pleaded guilty to sending a communication threatening death or serious harm.

READ MORE:

Pharmacy in Rhos-on-Sea hit by accidental fire

Llandudno teenager charged with drug supplying

Conwy man arrested after three stolen cars recovered at premises

Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that, on April 1, police were informed that Williams had been posting “disgusting” and “horrific” material on her Facebook page.

The posts included pictures and videos of animal cruelty and how they “turned her on”, references to her apparent “desire to be a mass shooter”, and photos of her holding knives and of deceased people in public places.

On March 30, she labelled the perpetrator of a mass shooting in Thailand “a bit of a hero”.

A day later, she took a photo of a mother and her child outside her home and made references to killing them, as well as comparing the child to James Bulger, a two-year-old boy who was abducted, tortured and murdered in 1993.

She also shared a video of a person shooting a cow, and a man shooting a dog with a crossbow, and indicated that she may look into purchasing a crossbow of her own.

Williams also made references to her own autism diagnosis, saying she felt she had “no help or support” with it.

Following her arrest on April 2, she told police that her posts were a “cry for help”, and said she was “amazed it took her this long to be arrested”.

Defending Williams, who had no previous convictions, Ember-Jade Wong said that her client had made no Facebook posts directed towards a specific individual.

Ms Wong said there had been an “absence of any particular planning, sophistication, or significant duration” in Williams’ offending.

There was also no evidence that she had “acted on any of these thoughts,” meanwhile.

Williams, who had been remanded in custody since April, suffers from autism and depression, and has been addicted to nitrous oxide.

Sentencing, Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones told Williams: “The posts that you put were horrific. There is no other word for it.

“I’m satisfied that it was deliberate, and it was planned.

“There’s no doubt at all that you are a very vulnerable person. It’s sad to read that you were using the internet as your only possible connection to the outside world.

“I accept that you’re sorry for what you did.”

Recorder Lloyd-Jones also ordered Williams to complete 25 days’ rehabilitation activity, as well as a prohibited activity requirement and an exclusion requirement.

He added to her: “I’m doing this because it seems to me it’s the best way to help you, and therefore the best way to help society in general, to try and make sure you don’t behave like this ever again.”

Williams will also pay a statutory surcharge.

*For support, call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or its Infoline on 0300 123 3393.