Imagine waking up to find your life turned upside down because of a single tweet.

That’s exactly what happened to 55-year-old Bernadette Spofforth, who recently endured a harrowing 36 hours in police custody.

The drama began when she was accused of spreading false information about a suspect in a tragic Southport dance class incident.

Fortunately, she has now been told no further police action will be taken.

The Incident That Sparked a Controversy

The trouble started after a dance class in Southport ended in tragedy, with three young girls killed in July.

Amid the shock and grief, false claims spread online about the suspect, suggesting he was an asylum seeker on an MI6 watch list.

This misinformation fueled anti-immigration riots across the country.

Spofforth, who lives in a Cheshire farmhouse worth £1.5 million, was reportedly the first to tweet the erroneous name.

When confronted by MailOnline, she admitted to making a “really stupid” mistake that she said “literally destroyed” her.

Police Action and Public Reaction

Four weeks after her arrest, Spofforth shared her ordeal on social media. She described how the police had “dragged me from my home and held me for 36 hours in a cell.”

She emphasized that her only “crime” was sharing a tweet, which she promptly deleted after realizing it was incorrect.

Spofforth stressed that her experience, while distressing, paled in comparison to the suffering of the Southport victims.

The Impact of Social Media Misinformation

Spofforth’s false tweet, which she posted just hours after the tragedy, quickly went viral.

It claimed that “Ali Al-Shakati,” the supposed suspect, was an asylum seeker with links to MI6.

This misinformation was later propagated by a Russian-linked website and retweeted extensively, exacerbating the situation.

Spofforth later clarified that she had copied the name from someone else and added a disclaimer questioning its validity.

The Legal and Public Backlash

Cheshire Police initially arrested Spofforth to seize her digital devices for investigation, rather than inviting her in for questioning.

The police confirmed they had not handcuffed her and that her arrest was necessary for evidence collection.

Spofforth, a former anti-lockdown campaigner and clothing company director, had a substantial following on social media before she deleted her account.

Following the police investigation, Spofforth received support from the Free Speech Union, which condemned her arrest and defended her actions as a mistake rather than a crime.

Toby Young, the union’s director, criticized the police for their handling of the case and stressed that such incidents should not divert resources from more pressing issues.

The Aftermath and Current Status

The police concluded their investigation, stating that Spofforth would face no charges due to insufficient evidence.

Axel Rudakubana, the actual suspect, is awaiting trial for multiple serious charges.

The incident has sparked a debate about the balance between online misinformation and free speech, and the role of social media in exacerbating real-world tensions.

Spofforth’s experience underscores the need for careful handling of sensitive information online and serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of spreading unchecked details.

Mine Crypto. Earn $GOATS while it is free! Click Here!!