A 60-year-old man accused of making threats against Conservative MP Louise Mensch has failed to appear in court.
Frank Zimmerman, of Spinney Road, Barnwood, Gloucester, is accused of targeting the politician via Twitter and email.
He was due to face Gloucester Magistrates' Court charged with an offence of making malicious communications under Section 127 of the 2003 Communications Act.
However, the court heard that Zimmerman was suffering from agoraphobia and had been unwell for the past two weeks and unable to leave his home. In his absence, District Judge Joti Boparai adjourned the case until January 16.
Zimmerman was arrested on August 25 by the Metropolitan Police's e-crime unit after an allegation by Mrs Mensch that her children had been threatened by email.
Mrs Mensch, who writes chick-lit novels under her maiden name Louise Bagshawe, has three children and was elected MP for Corby in Northamptonshire last year.
She posted a message on Twitter that said she had passed the messages to police in the House of Commons.
Mrs Mensch said: "I don't bully easily, kids. Or in fact at all."