A CHESHIRE businesswoman who was arrested after sharing a fake name for the Southport attacker online will face no further action.

Bernadette Spofforth, 55, was arrested on August 8 after reposting the fake name, commenting that if it were true there would be ‘hell to pay’.

She later deleted the post and apologised after realising the information was wrong.

Ms Spofforth said: “My crime was sharing a tweet, which I deleted and apologised for sharing as soon I realised it contained inaccurate information.

“As has now been shown, the idea that one single tweet could be the catalyst for the riots which followed the atrocities in Southport is simply not true.

“Yet, despite repeatedly insisting I had done nothing illegal, the police dragged me from my home and held me for 36 hours in a cell.

“What I have experienced over the past few weeks is nothing in comparison to the suffering of the tragic victims in Southport. And I am not trying to compare the two.

“But I am just an ordinary person with ordinary opinions, and I think it is important that the public should know how ordinary people can be treated.

“The nightmare my family and I have lived through over the past month could happen to anyone. And in Britain in 2024, that is unacceptable.”

Cheshire Police did not name Spofforth, but confirmed that a 55-year-old woman from near Chester would face no further action.

A spokesman said: “A woman who was arrested in relation to an inaccurate social media post has been released without charge.

“The 55-year-old woman from near Chester was arrested on Thursday, August 8, following allegations in relation to a social media post containing inaccurate information about the identity of the attacker in the Southport murders.

“Following a thorough investigation, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken due to insufficient evidence.”