Muslim cleric sentenced to community service for sending hate letters to ADF families Haron Monis arrives for sentencing at Downing Centre District Court today. A MUSLIM cleric who wrote "grossly offensive and deplorable" letters to the grieving families of killed Australian soldiers and the victim of a bomb blast has been ordered to give hundreds of hours back to the community whose values he tarnished. The self-styled Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis was this afternoon sentenced to 300 hours of community service, and ordered to abide by a two year good behaviour bond. Monis, 49, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to 12 charges of using a postal service in a menacing, harassing and offensive way between 2007 and 2009. He admitted sending letters to eight families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and the family of Craig Senger, an Austrade official killed in a bombing at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2009. Judge Mark Marien said the letters were written as a result of Monis's "very strong political views" about Australia's involvement in the war in Afghanistan, but said the letters were written very soon after the deaths of the men and came at a time that "would [have been] extremely hurtful and distressing for them." He told the court such "freedom of political expression ... is not an absolute right" and that it was "reckless" to pass on such material to families. Bree Till, the widow of killed Sergeant Brett Till, was presented with letters at a memorial service for her husband. In another video message Monis told a grieving relative "I feel sorry for you but not for him." His co-accused Amirah Droudis, 34, has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting him. She had her sentenced deferred provides she follows a two year bond. Sydney's District Court previously heard Monis describe his actions as akin to sending "flowers of condolence." But Crown Prosecutor John Agius SC said "if they were flowers we say they were stinging nettles on flesh already laid bare and injured through the death of the deceased." The court heard she also appeared in a video sent to Cassandra Marks, the widow of Lance Corporal Jason Marks, saying "we don't honour Hitler's soldiers" so Australian soldiers also shouldn't be decorated for their service. Judge Marien said before handing down sentence that he regretted having to quote from the letters in his remarks, knowing they may cause fresh hurt to relatives in the courtroom.