A British IT professional faced arrest and multiple police visits after sharing a photograph of himself holding a firearm during his American holiday, a case that later attracted sharp commentary from tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The Controversial Social Media Post
Jon Richelieu-Booth, a 50-year-old consultant from West Yorkshire, expressed shock when police officers visited his home following his LinkedIn post on August 13. The image showed him legally holding a gun on private property in Florida, United States, as part of a longer message about his daily activities and work.
West Yorkshire Police initially advised him to be cautious about his online content after receiving concerns about the firearm photograph. Notably, officers did not request evidence proving the picture was taken in the United States, where gun laws differ significantly from the UK.
Arrest and Multiple Allegations
The situation escalated dramatically on August 24 when police returned to his home around 10 pm and arrested him. A bail document referenced serious allegations including possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a separate stalking charge related to a social media photograph of a house.
Richelieu-Booth spent the night in custody before being interviewed. Although both the firearms and stalking allegations were eventually dropped, police visited his property three additional times before his re-arrest in October for allegedly violating bail conditions, a charge that was also abandoned.
Case Discontinuation and International Attention
The Crown Prosecution Service eventually charged him with a public order offence connected to a different social media post before discontinuing the entire case ahead of his scheduled hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court on November 25.
The investigation severely impacted Richelieu-Booth's professional life as police seized his phones and computers, leaving him unable to work effectively.
Elon Musk brought international spotlight to the case by commenting online about the arrest coverage. The Tesla CEO contrasted the situation with legal protections available in the United States, amplifying global debate about social media policing and the scope of public order laws in the United Kingdom.
