A MAN who sent abusive transphobic messages has been sentenced.

Paul Milana, 57, from Upper St James's Street in Brighton sent a number of messages on August 2 2020 through a communications network - during a weekend that Pride had been due to take place in the city, but was cancelled because of the pandemic.

He was ordered by Brighton Magistrates' Court to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, to be carried out in a 12-month period with a requirement of rehabilitation.

Milana was also issued with a restraining order by the court on February 2, and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.

He must also pay £500 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £95 victim surcharge.

Milana, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of sending by public communications network an offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing message or matter on August 27 last year.

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