Media365
A British IT consultant was arrested after posting a photograph of himself holding a gun during a holiday in the United States, a case that later drew sharp criticism from Elon Musk. Jon Richelieu-Booth, 50, from West Yorkshire, said he was shocked after police visited and later detained him over the image, which he says was taken legally on private property in Florida.Richelieu-Booth posted the photo on LinkedIn on 13 August as part of a longer message about his day and work activities. He said West Yorkshire Police later visited his home, advising him to be careful about what he posted online after concerns were raised about the image. He said officers did not ask to see proof that the photograph was taken in the US.On 24 August, officers returned to his home at around 10 pm and arrested him. A bail document referred to allegations of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, as well as a separate allegation of stalking linked to a photograph of a house on his social media. Richelieu-Booth was held overnight before being interviewed.The firearms and stalking allegations were later dropped. Richelieu-Booth said police attended his property three more times before he was re-arrested in October for allegedly breaching bail conditions, although that charge was also abandoned. He was then charged with a public order offence relating to a different social media post. The case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of his scheduled hearing at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on 25 November.Richelieu-Booth said the investigation left him unable to work as his phone and computers were seized by police.The incident drew international attention after Elon Musk commented on the case online. His post referenced coverage of the arrest and contrasted the situation with legal protections in the United States. Musk’s response amplified debate around the policing of social media posts and the scope of public order laws in the UK.
