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There are now TWO police forces investigating ‘rape tweet’ UKIP candidate

Two different police forces are investigating Carl Benjamin, who tweeted he "wouldn't even rape" MP Jess Phillips. Picture: PA / Sky - Credit: Archant

Two different police forces are investigating whether UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin has committed crimes on social media.


Wiltshire Police revealed last week that they are investigating a file of YouTube clips and postings in which the candidate discussed the age of sexual consent.

Now West Midlands Police are investigating reports of malicious communication in response to a video of Benjamin saying he “might cave” into raping Labour MP Jess Phillips.

Benjamin, also known as YouTuber Sargon of Akkad, previously came under fire for a 2016 tweet in which he said he “wouldn’t even rape” Phillips.

After the tweet resurfaced, he then followed up the ensuing furore this month with a video online suggesting that “with enough pressure I might cave”, prompting reports to West Midlands Police.

READ: UKIP candidate’s comments branded ‘shit’ by MP after making more rape ‘jokes’Phillips told BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire that the most recent ‘rape’ comments had made her break down in tears.

“Sometimes I’d rather that someone punched me in the face than the constant degradation that you suffer as a woman in the public eye,” Phillips told Derbyshire.

“It was one thing when he was just some idiot off the internet … it’s a different thing when he’s standing on the same platforms that I’m standing on.”

UKIP’s leader Gerard Batten, who is standing down after the EU elections, has been under intense criticism for defending the initial tweet, saying it was not a rape joke but a “remark of non-intent”.

READ: Labour MP destroys UKIP leader over candidate’s rape ‘joke’ to Jess PhillipsLast month Wiltshire Police confirmed they were investigating a dossier of materials passed to them by a senior UKIP insider.

A spokesperson for UKIP has been contacted with a request for comment.

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