CHANNEL 4 has been slammed after using the mugshot of Southport monster Axel Rudakubana to plug its shows.
A Facebook ad featuring the triple killer’s haunting face was captioned: “More of the shows you love, more of the shows you will love. Stream now on Channel 4.”
Last week blundering telly bosses were forced to apologise over the gaffe after sparking fury from the town’s MP.
Labour backbencher Patrick Hurley raged: “Is this some sort of joke?”
He added: “I’m really disappointed to see Channel 4 actively promote this image to Southport residents on Facebook, by buying ads targeting them.
“Please stop this.”
Rudakubana, who killed three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town last July, had his custody photo splashed in a promo for the broadcaster’s on-demand service.
It meant the harrowing snap was pushed into Facebook users’ feeds without warning.
Grieving families scrolling Facebook could have been hit with the killer’s image completely out of the blue – despite not following Channel 4.
The show linked to the ad was a 20-minute news special named ‘Southport Killer Sentenced’, broadcast after the killer was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.
Bosses admitted the snap was used by mistake and had been removed.
A spokesperson said: “We apologise for any offence or upset this has caused.”
Telly watchdog Ofcom confirmed it had received a complaint from Mr Hurley.
But a spokesperson said: “Decisions on how news is covered, including the choice of images, is an editorial matter for broadcasters.”
Rudakubana is serving 52 years for murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
The Sun this month revealed the fiend hurled scalding water over a prison officer while caged at max-security HMP Belmarsh.
