Jailed: 'Cruel' internet troll finally faces justice for tormenting hit-and-run victim's family

"Cruel" keyboard warrior David Brown, aged 61, finally faced justice for trolling the terminally ill mother and stepfather of Dylan Price after the young man was killed just before his 18th birthday on the B4385 Brampton Road in Bishop’s Castle in September 2021.

Brown, who sent messages from a fake Facebook account claiming he had killed Dylan, first admitted two charges of sending false information, contrary to the Malicious Communications Act back in 2022.

He was named and shamed in the Shropshire Star, but then made an attempt to try and vacate his pleas, claiming he was "hacked" and that his daughter's ex-boyfriend committed the crimes.

His appeal was rejected in May, meaning he had to finally face the music this week after dragging out the ordeal for Dylan's family for almost two years.

Brown's sentencing was held in the same courtroom in Telford where he first admitted the charges. Wearing a dark jumper and blue jeans and with his hair balding on top, he failed to look at Dylan's sisters Izzy and Livvy, who watched on in the public gallery with their stepdad Steve Bristow.

It was Mr Bristow who Brown first contacted back in July 2022, around 10 months after Dylan died. The young rugby player's killer remains at large.

Numerous appeals were made online for information as Dylan's family searched for answers, justice and some form of closure over their heartbreaking loss.

However, those appeals drew ire from Brown, who when arrested told police he was "p***ed off at seeing Dylan, Dylan, Dylan" all over social media.

So, in a twisted move, he messaged Mr Bristow from a fake Facebook profile under the name of 'John Thomas'. Brown told him he was responsible for Dylan's death, before later claiming it was someone else and alluded to a fight in a pub.

Mr Bristow, who prosecutor Thomas McLoughlin said responded in a way which was "not at all judgemental", encouraged 'John Thomas' to go to the police in a back and forth which lasted around a week.

When Brown told Mr Bristow he did not want to go to the police because he "didn't want to get in trouble", Louise Bristow - Dylan's mother - messaged the fake account and pleaded with him to do the right thing,

Police investigated and traced the IP address to Brown and he was arrested.

Now, after nearly two years, Brown is facing the consequences of his actions.

Suzanne Francis, mitigating, said Brown was "moving towards acceptance" of what he has done.

"He says 'it might have been me, if it was me I was drunk, I'm sorry'."

She also said Brown's family have been "ostracised" by the community for what he did.

Judge Laura Hobson told Brown: "On September 19, 2021, they lost their son to a tragic road accident. It doesn't need me to say they were devastated by what happened.

"Their pain was made more acute by her (Louise's) poor health. You increased their pain and grief.

"You contacted Mr Bristow and told him a pack of lies. Mrs Bristow contacted you and even when she told you she was 'a complete mess' and had been given bad news about her own health, you strung her along."

She added: "You say you cannot remember committing the offences as you were drunk. This was not a single incident in the spur of the moment. It was over days and involved two separate people. It was calculated and deliberate behaviour.

"Those two people have been bereaved and were looking for answers. Mrs Bristow has a terminal diagnosis. Your messages made it unbearable.

"You deliberately targeted those vulnerable people for your own entertainment. For what reasons, I don't know. You haven't told probation either.

"I have heard you're beginning to accept what you have done. That is difficult to square, with you attempting to vacate your guilty pleas.

"You have offended time and time again and I am not confident there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

"Those offences are very serious and they speak to a particular problem in the age of social media.

"It is very easy to contact others online and hide behind a false identity. Real people are affected by your actions.

"This sentence must not just punish you, it must send a message to others."

She jailed Brown for 15 months and hit him with a restraining order, banning him from contacting Mr and Mrs Bristow for 10 years.