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Former MP Charlie Elphicke 'chanted I'm a naughty Tory after sexually assaulting woman'
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/charlie-elphicke-chanted-naughty-tory-a4490051.html
A former Conservative MP chanted “I’m a naughty Tory” after sexually assaulting a woman and chasing her around the kitchen to try to slap her bottom, a court heard.
Charlie Elphicke, 50, allegedly talked “suggestively” about silk and leather and suggested he “liked bondage and whips” before attacking the woman in his family home.
It is said he pounced as they shared a bottle of wine, trying to kiss her and plunging his hand down her blouse before she recoiled in “horror”.
Elphicke, the MP for Dover between 2010 to 2019, is then accused of chasing her, Benny Hill-style, around the kitchen as she tried to escape his clutches.
The woman said the politician was “clearly enjoying himself” as he pursued her, and she eventually barricaded herself in a room to get away from him. However Elphicke later put the incident down to a “misunderstanding”.
Elphicke is now on trial at Southwark crown court, accused of sexually assaulting the woman in 2007 and two alleged sex attacks on a different woman in 2016.
Prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC told jurors this morning the woman was sat with Elphicke on his sofa as they enjoyed some wine, while his wife was away and their two children slept upstairs.
“Very quickly Charlie Elphicke pushed her backwards by the shoulder, back against the sofa, placed his knee in between her legs, one of his arms rigid to her side as he was directly above her”, she said.
“He came down to give her a kiss. At the same time he came down, he put his hand into her V-neck tunic dress, reached in and grabbed her right breast and squeezed it.”
Ms Marshall said the woman “immediately said no and pushed him off”.
“She was shocked, the whole incident was completely unexpected”, she said. “She ran off and as she did so Charlie Elphicke followed her.
“As he followed her, he chanted in a sing-song voice ‘I’m a naughty Tory, I’m a naughty Tory’ over and over again as if a school ground chant.
“He was very animated, excitable, and clearly enjoying himself, chanting towards her and slapping her bottom.”
The woman called her sister that night to tell her what had happened, saying she had been groped and “chased round the kitchen”.
Ms Marshall said the sister thought it “sounded ridiculous, like a sketch from a Benny Hill show”.
The alleged attack was reported to the police after Elphicke’s name was included on a published list of alleged Parliamentary sexual abusers in 2017.
A second woman, who worked in Westminster, had also accused the MP of two sexual assaults in a complaint to the Conservative Whips office in 2016.
“Although there is a period of nine years between the allegations, you will hear there are striking similarities of what they describe happening to both of them, what he did to them at the time and how he reacted when they rejected him”, added Ms Marshall.
The court heard the second alleged victim says Elphicke groped her in a Parliamentary office while they were drinking champagne and "giggled" afterwards.
Elphicke denies sexually assaulting either woman, but told police something had happened in 2007 incident when the woman was feeding chocolate stars into his mouth and became “tactile”.
He claimed they kissed and she “responded positively”, but when she said it was not what she wanted he “immediately” stopped.
Elphicke denied asking about silk and leather or describing himself as a “naughty Tory”, insisting the incident was a “regret” and said the woman had asked for £5,000 compensation which he had paid in instalments to avoid his wife finding out.
He insists that the second woman's allegations are untrue and he was not attracted to her.
Elphicke, of Dover, Kent, denies three counts of sexual assault.
The trial, which is due to last four weeks in front of Mrs Justice Whipple, continues.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/charlie-elphicke-chanted-naughty-tory-a4490051.html
A former Conservative MP chanted “I’m a naughty Tory” after sexually assaulting a woman and chasing her around the kitchen to try to slap her bottom, a court heard.
Charlie Elphicke, 50, allegedly talked “suggestively” about silk and leather and suggested he “liked bondage and whips” before attacking the woman in his family home.
It is said he pounced as they shared a bottle of wine, trying to kiss her and plunging his hand down her blouse before she recoiled in “horror”.
Elphicke, the MP for Dover between 2010 to 2019, is then accused of chasing her, Benny Hill-style, around the kitchen as she tried to escape his clutches.
The woman said the politician was “clearly enjoying himself” as he pursued her, and she eventually barricaded herself in a room to get away from him. However Elphicke later put the incident down to a “misunderstanding”.
Elphicke is now on trial at Southwark crown court, accused of sexually assaulting the woman in 2007 and two alleged sex attacks on a different woman in 2016.
Prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC told jurors this morning the woman was sat with Elphicke on his sofa as they enjoyed some wine, while his wife was away and their two children slept upstairs.
“Very quickly Charlie Elphicke pushed her backwards by the shoulder, back against the sofa, placed his knee in between her legs, one of his arms rigid to her side as he was directly above her”, she said.
“He came down to give her a kiss. At the same time he came down, he put his hand into her V-neck tunic dress, reached in and grabbed her right breast and squeezed it.”
Ms Marshall said the woman “immediately said no and pushed him off”.
“She was shocked, the whole incident was completely unexpected”, she said. “She ran off and as she did so Charlie Elphicke followed her.
“As he followed her, he chanted in a sing-song voice ‘I’m a naughty Tory, I’m a naughty Tory’ over and over again as if a school ground chant.
“He was very animated, excitable, and clearly enjoying himself, chanting towards her and slapping her bottom.”
The woman called her sister that night to tell her what had happened, saying she had been groped and “chased round the kitchen”.
Ms Marshall said the sister thought it “sounded ridiculous, like a sketch from a Benny Hill show”.
The alleged attack was reported to the police after Elphicke’s name was included on a published list of alleged Parliamentary sexual abusers in 2017.
A second woman, who worked in Westminster, had also accused the MP of two sexual assaults in a complaint to the Conservative Whips office in 2016.
“Although there is a period of nine years between the allegations, you will hear there are striking similarities of what they describe happening to both of them, what he did to them at the time and how he reacted when they rejected him”, added Ms Marshall.
The court heard the second alleged victim says Elphicke groped her in a Parliamentary office while they were drinking champagne and "giggled" afterwards.
Elphicke denies sexually assaulting either woman, but told police something had happened in 2007 incident when the woman was feeding chocolate stars into his mouth and became “tactile”.
He claimed they kissed and she “responded positively”, but when she said it was not what she wanted he “immediately” stopped.
Elphicke denied asking about silk and leather or describing himself as a “naughty Tory”, insisting the incident was a “regret” and said the woman had asked for £5,000 compensation which he had paid in instalments to avoid his wife finding out.
He insists that the second woman's allegations are untrue and he was not attracted to her.
Elphicke, of Dover, Kent, denies three counts of sexual assault.
The trial, which is due to last four weeks in front of Mrs Justice Whipple, continues.
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Any sex pest esp a public figure eg an elected MP who's been arrested but yet to be charged will need to be outed to encourage others who were possibly victims too of his odious behaviour to come forward. Just because the MPs themselves voted to amend the law identifying one of their own prior in 2016 despite being arrested (but not charged) is contrary to the law accorded to the public.
Why one law for MPs and another for Joe public esp allegation of sexual assaults and rape?
Why one law for MPs and another for Joe public esp allegation of sexual assaults and rape?
I would bet that the mystery tory mp hasn't posted on his twitter account since Saturday 1st August, the day he spent being interviewed in a police station...
I doubt police let him post during his arrest, might have
a member of staff to do it for him, if tories havnt removed all
his staffers
a member of staff to do it for him, if tories havnt removed all
his staffers
mp,s/tory,s must be very confident it will go no further ,as they,ll just look like their usual incompetent,entitled arrogant kooonts they are,then theyve still got the lady coming out to media
if he,s going to be named eventually anyway which might result in others coming forward ,after he,s cleared,cant see any positives for him or tory,s keeping stum
if he,s going to be named eventually anyway which might result in others coming forward ,after he,s cleared,cant see any positives for him or tory,s keeping stum
i notice no marital status was released by police,does that suggest he,s single
thank you for that insight charlie or was it damien,or michael , 
,
innocent of what
bullying
rape
unwanted sexual advances
cohesive control
having an affair
,innocent of what
bullying
rape
unwanted sexual advances
cohesive control
having an affair
It's 100% certain he's innocent, at the mo.
same things were said about kate maltby, do tory,s have a thing about women or just employ all the bunny boilers in uk
i,m going to ride a white charger for truth and justice before spoending a few years in chokey,aitken
coulson can i have one of the cells kept for tory mp,s,
charlie i,m a naughty it wasnt me tory
coulson can i have one of the cells kept for tory mp,s,
charlie i,m a naughty it wasnt me tory
"I'll give you two grand" What? An Archer. I want more than that.
I should think he is guilty of no more than upholding the great traditional behaviour of a Tory mp
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/whips-knew-of-concerns-about-rape-su...
Whips knew of concerns about rape suspect Tory MP ‘for years’
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/whips-knew-of-concerns-about-rape-suspect-tory-mp-for-years-5vm7ndsc9
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/whips-knew-of-concerns-about-rape-suspect-tory-mp-for-years-5vm7ndsc9
the tory mp,s friends say he,s very chipper preparing his case and answers for the police
there was no case to offer answers to according to this man 7 days ago and all would be revealed as to him been innocent, code for rich tory with money prepares to blindside us with a she didnt swallow etc,etc scenario
there was no case to offer answers to according to this man 7 days ago and all would be revealed as to him been innocent, code for rich tory with money prepares to blindside us with a she didnt swallow etc,etc scenario
Still the MP concerned not named. Why so long? The sooner he's named the sooner he'd be dispatched far far away from the House Of Commons (and his victims), and not sponging on taxpayers fund.
bailed till november and allowed to work in commons, jess phillips etc if they feel that strongly bound to use parlimentery priv to name him
It's gone uncharacteristically quiet. What is the hold-up? No naming yet despite being arrested by police. I hope this's not been swept under the carpet.
TORY,S panicing in case he,s named in commons,alleged victim wants an mp,peer to name him,
so its make your mind up time,will the innocent man out himself or wait to be named in commons
so its make your mind up time,will the innocent man out himself or wait to be named in commons
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-54161766
Elphicke gets two years in the slammer.
Elphicke gets two years in the slammer.
Tough sentence, I guess reflecting the duty these mps have to uphold the law.
Oh, yeah, wait a minute,...
Oh, yeah, wait a minute,...
Mark Francois has not attended the Commons for at least two weeks yet in that time has voted nine times.
Another MP has been voting for him as a proxy.
But this is allowed only for new mothers, new fathers, adoptive parents, and medical or COVID reasons.
Which is it? @HoCPress
Another MP has been voting for him as a proxy.
But this is allowed only for new mothers, new fathers, adoptive parents, and medical or COVID reasons.
Which is it? @HoCPress
Oh dear, how inopportune. Tongues will be wagging
Court on 11 November
Labour MP Claudia Webbe has been charged with harassing a woman.
Ms Webbe, who represents Leicester East, is accused of one count of harassment between September 2018 and April this year.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 55-year-old MP is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 11 November.
Ms Webbe has said she is "innocent of any wrongdoing" and that she will "vigorously" defend herself in court.
Labour has suspended Ms Webbe from the party and the party whip following the harassment charge, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg understands.
Labour MP Claudia Webbe has been charged with harassing a woman.
Ms Webbe, who represents Leicester East, is accused of one count of harassment between September 2018 and April this year.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 55-year-old MP is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 11 November.
Ms Webbe has said she is "innocent of any wrongdoing" and that she will "vigorously" defend herself in court.
Labour has suspended Ms Webbe from the party and the party whip following the harassment charge, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg understands.
Quite right to suspend her immediately from the party. If she is innocent she has nothing to worry about.
Sep 15, 2020 -- 7:09PM, politicspunter wrote:
Oh dear, how inopportune. Tongues will be wagging
Yes. Hard to know what on earth this presumably quite challenging parenting / Covid / medical problem Francois has is doing on this thread, isn’t it? Poor man. I hope nobody is drawing any adverse conclusions. Did I hear he’d also had to give up his role as chair of the ERG because of presumably the same parenting / Covid / medical problem?
The Tories have always been naughty. Look up Ernest Saunders on wiki. Still the only man know to ever make a full recovery from Alzheimers disease. After it got him out of jail of course. Profumo lied to parliament, Aitken convicted of perjury, Archer convicted of perjury, Elphicke the Groper jailed for sexual assault.
They're a lovely bunch!
They're a lovely bunch!
Sep 29, 2020 -- 9:54PM, LoyalHoncho wrote:
The Tories have always been naughty.
LoyalHoncho • September 29, 2020 9:54 PM BST
The Tories have always been naughty. Look up Ernest Saunders on wiki. Still the only man know to ever make a full recovery from Alzheimers disease. After it got him out of jail of course. Profumo lied to parliament, Aitken convicted of perjury, Archer convicted of perjury, Elphicke the Groper jailed for sexual assault.
They're a lovely bunch!
Ernest Saunders was a tory MP?
The Tories have always been naughty. Look up Ernest Saunders on wiki. Still the only man know to ever make a full recovery from Alzheimers disease. After it got him out of jail of course. Profumo lied to parliament, Aitken convicted of perjury, Archer convicted of perjury, Elphicke the Groper jailed for sexual assault.
They're a lovely bunch!
Ernest Saunders was a tory MP?
Ernest Saunders symbolized the get-rich quick explosion of the big-bang generation spawned by hardline Thatcher monetarism who manipulated share prices for private gain. Only Tories do/did that - MP's or not - or hadn't you noticed. Are you seriously trying to tell me wasn't a Tory?
I can't be certain which way he voted but I am fairly sure he wasn't a Conservative MP.
I didn't say he was a conservative M.P., nor is the thread entitled "Tory M.P.'s, it is entitled Tories.
You really must brush up on your interpretation skills if you are going to have any chance of having your ever-repeated fake news considered by this forum.
You really must brush up on your interpretation skills if you are going to have any chance of having your ever-repeated fake news considered by this forum.
Well, to be fair, you are just guessing that he is a tory, aren't you?
An MP "threatened" and made "numerous unwanted telephone calls" to a woman, a court has heard.
Claudia Webbe, who represents Leicester East, is accused of one count of harassment between September 2018 and April this year.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard the details of the charge include making threats "on at least two occasions".
The 55-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday.
She was granted unconditional bail and her trial will take place at the same location on 16 March.
Claudia Webbe, who represents Leicester East, is accused of one count of harassment between September 2018 and April this year.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard the details of the charge include making threats "on at least two occasions".
The 55-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday.
She was granted unconditional bail and her trial will take place at the same location on 16 March.
sex pest back in commons with his union jack underpants on this week,no charges
SUNDAY MAIL revealing the lady has got a top QC and is her right appealing the police decision to drop case,report saying witnesses wernt spoken to,evidence ignored etc, police asking her to drop accusations
disturbing details of alleged behaviour,
and most obvious question why does a 20 yr old get involved in an affair with a married dwarf who wears union jack undercrackers,
disturbing details of alleged behaviour,
and most obvious question why does a 20 yr old get involved in an affair with a married dwarf who wears union jack undercrackers,
if she loses her appeal,she couild go to the papers putting the ball in monsieur,s court
The Sunday Mirror says a woman who claims she was raped by a Conservative MP is hoping for a legal review, after police dropped their investigation. In December, the Metropolitan Police said "no further action" would be taken, following a "thorough investigation".
And of course his records were wiped by patels incompetence
last week.
And of course his records were wiped by patels incompetence
last week.
Labour MP Apsana Begum will stand trial on three
housing fraud charges at the end of July this year.
She denies the three charges and will formally
enter not guilty pleas prior to trial.
Her case has been prioritised to a degree due
to the public interest in the case.
housing fraud charges at the end of July this year.
She denies the three charges and will formally
enter not guilty pleas prior to trial.
Her case has been prioritised to a degree due
to the public interest in the case.
#Breaking Conservative MP for Wakefield Imran Ahmad Khan, 47, is facing trial accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008, it can be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted
They'll never learn, Labour will have a fair chance if he gets dumped or jailed
The sexual case against the MP from Wakefield was considered so serious the case is being heard at the Old Bailey. Lord Ahmed and his cronies pleaded not fit to stand trial.
An MP suspended from Parliament after sexually harassing a member of his staff has returned to the Commons despite calls to stay away.
Delyn MP Rob Roberts was suspended from the house for six weeks after a panel heard he propositioned a staff member and told him to be "less alluring".
He returned to the Commons on Wednesday after his suspension ended, with a Tory source describing the move as "brazen".
Mr Roberts has not responded to the BBC's request for comment.
The MP had previously said he had apologised for a "completely improper" breach of trust "in the MP-staff relationship" and he would continue to serve his constituency.
He has had his party whip suspended, meaning he returns as an independent MP, but is still a Conservative Party member - which the party has said is "under review".
Delyn MP Rob Roberts was suspended from the house for six weeks after a panel heard he propositioned a staff member and told him to be "less alluring".
He returned to the Commons on Wednesday after his suspension ended, with a Tory source describing the move as "brazen".
Mr Roberts has not responded to the BBC's request for comment.
The MP had previously said he had apologised for a "completely improper" breach of trust "in the MP-staff relationship" and he would continue to serve his constituency.
He has had his party whip suspended, meaning he returns as an independent MP, but is still a Conservative Party member - which the party has said is "under review".
That Rob Roberts case is as bad as it gets and only through a technical loophole has he escaped being bombed out.
Five Tory MPs found to have breached code of conduct
Five Conservative MPs breached the code of conduct over an attempt to influence legal proceedings, a standards committee has found.
Theresa Villiers, Natalie Elphicke, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Bob Stewart wrote letters regarding ex-MP Charlie Elphicke, who was convicted of sex offences.
The letters on Commons notepaper were addressed to senior judges.
Three of the MPs could be suspended from Parliament for one day.
Ms Villiers, Mrs Elphicke and Sir Roger face suspension, while Mr Holloway and Col Stewart have been told to apologise by the Commons Standards Committee.
All five wrote to senior members of the judiciary raising concerns that a more junior judge was considering publishing character references provided for Mr Elphicke.
Mr Elphicke was jailed for two years in September 2020 after being convicted of three counts of assault against two women.
The committee said the MPs' letters amounted to "an attempt improperly to influence judicial proceedings".
It said that "such egregious behaviour is corrosive to the rule of law and, if allowed to continue unchecked, could undermine public trust in the independence of judges."
And it found the MPs' behaviour had "caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity" of the House of Commons.
The committee said of the three MPs recommended for suspension, two had "substantial legal experience" while the third, Sir Roger, is both the longest standing of the group and "still does not accept his mistake".
Totally and utterly abhorrent.
Five Conservative MPs breached the code of conduct over an attempt to influence legal proceedings, a standards committee has found.
Theresa Villiers, Natalie Elphicke, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Bob Stewart wrote letters regarding ex-MP Charlie Elphicke, who was convicted of sex offences.
The letters on Commons notepaper were addressed to senior judges.
Three of the MPs could be suspended from Parliament for one day.
Ms Villiers, Mrs Elphicke and Sir Roger face suspension, while Mr Holloway and Col Stewart have been told to apologise by the Commons Standards Committee.
All five wrote to senior members of the judiciary raising concerns that a more junior judge was considering publishing character references provided for Mr Elphicke.
Mr Elphicke was jailed for two years in September 2020 after being convicted of three counts of assault against two women.
The committee said the MPs' letters amounted to "an attempt improperly to influence judicial proceedings".
It said that "such egregious behaviour is corrosive to the rule of law and, if allowed to continue unchecked, could undermine public trust in the independence of judges."
And it found the MPs' behaviour had "caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity" of the House of Commons.
The committee said of the three MPs recommended for suspension, two had "substantial legal experience" while the third, Sir Roger, is both the longest standing of the group and "still does not accept his mistake".
Totally and utterly abhorrent.
Tory MPs 'asked to spy on randy colleagues' to stop another Matt Hancock scandal
https://t.co/kY26py0TD6
It's only the mirror, but hey ho...
https://t.co/kY26py0TD6
It's only the mirror, but hey ho...
The mayor of Crawley has resigned after footage was circulated online appearing to show him in a brawl.
Labour councillor Shahzad Malik had faced calls to step down after the incident in July at the Tushmore roundabout in Crawley, West Sussex.
Ending his term early, Mr Malik claimed he was "not a violent man" but had acted in self-defence.
Crawley Borough Council's Conservative leader Duncan Crow said the "appalling conduct" had "shamed our town".
An investigation was launched by Sussex Police after the altercation, which took place at about 14:30 BST on 19 July.
At the time, the force said one of the men had suffered injuries and briefly lost consciousness, before both men left the scene in their vehicles.
Submitting his resignation with "deep sadness", Mr Malik, who also works as a taxi driver, confirmed his involvement.
Labour councillor Shahzad Malik had faced calls to step down after the incident in July at the Tushmore roundabout in Crawley, West Sussex.
Ending his term early, Mr Malik claimed he was "not a violent man" but had acted in self-defence.
Crawley Borough Council's Conservative leader Duncan Crow said the "appalling conduct" had "shamed our town".
An investigation was launched by Sussex Police after the altercation, which took place at about 14:30 BST on 19 July.
At the time, the force said one of the men had suffered injuries and briefly lost consciousness, before both men left the scene in their vehicles.
Submitting his resignation with "deep sadness", Mr Malik, who also works as a taxi driver, confirmed his involvement.
Labour held Councils nationwide ,no problem with thousands of active rapists over the years .
An MP has appeared in court to deny sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.
Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, who represents Wakefield in West Yorkshire, faces a single count of sexual assault against the then teenager in Staffordshire, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Ahmad Khan appeared earlier from his lawyer's office by video link at the Old Bailey.
The MP has been suspended by the Conservative Party.
Mr Ahmad Khan spoke only to confirm his name before pleading not guilty.
He has previously issued a denial to the allegation "in the strongest terms".
Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, who represents Wakefield in West Yorkshire, faces a single count of sexual assault against the then teenager in Staffordshire, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Mr Ahmad Khan appeared earlier from his lawyer's office by video link at the Old Bailey.
The MP has been suspended by the Conservative Party.
Mr Ahmad Khan spoke only to confirm his name before pleading not guilty.
He has previously issued a denial to the allegation "in the strongest terms".
Any updates on the Keith Vaz trial?
Is he well enough to attend court yet?
Is he well enough to attend court yet?
Ex-Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has been released from prison after serving half of a two-year sentence for sexually assaulting two women.
Elphicke, 49, the former Dover MP, was convicted in July 2020 of groping the women, and jailed in September 2020.
He was found guilty of one count of sexual assault in 2007 and two further counts in 2016.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed his release, which The Sun reported was from Leyhill open prison on Tuesday.
During his trial, the jury was told Elphicke groped a woman in his home before chanting "I'm a naughty Tory".
Elphicke, 49, the former Dover MP, was convicted in July 2020 of groping the women, and jailed in September 2020.
He was found guilty of one count of sexual assault in 2007 and two further counts in 2016.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed his release, which The Sun reported was from Leyhill open prison on Tuesday.
During his trial, the jury was told Elphicke groped a woman in his home before chanting "I'm a naughty Tory".
An MP has been accused of threatening to use acid against a woman she believed to be in a relationship with her partner, a court has heard.
Claudia Webbe, 56, allegedly became “obsessed” with Michelle Merritt due to her friendship with the Leicester East MP’s partner, Lester Thomas.
Webbe also threatened to reveal naked photographs and videos she supposedly had of Merritt to her family, Westminster magistrates court heard on Monday.
Webbe, who was elected as a Labour MP but has since had the whip withdrawn, denies the charge.
Susannah Stevens, prosecuting, said: “The reason for the harassment appeared to be the fact that Ms Merritt was friends with Lester Thomas and this was an issue for the defendant, Ms Webbe.
“The harassment initially took the form of telephone calls that were made by Ms Webbe to Ms Merritt.”
Made from a withheld number, the calls were silent and of a short duration, the court was told. They tended to occur when Merritt was with Thomas.
Stevens said: “When [Merritt] answered the call, the person on the other end would not respond and would then hang up.”
In October 2018 , Merritt received a call from a number that could be seen. She put the number into the search engine Google, and discovered it belonged to Webbe, the court was told.
“She saw this because the number was available on the internet because Claudia Webbe is a Labour MP and the phone number appears on Labour literature and also a Leicester council website.”
A friend of Merritt asked Webbe to refrain from making calls, but on 31 March 2019, the harassment escalated, the court was told, when she spoke to Merritt.
“Indeed, the crown say that Claudia Webbe was in such a state during this call that not only did she query the nature of the contact and refuse to accept that Ms Merritt and Lester Thomas were just friends. She then went on to say that Ms Merritt was a ‘slag’ and she should ‘be acid’,” Stevens said.
“The defendant further threatened Ms Merritt that naked photographs and videos of her would be sent to Ms Merritt’s children.
“The court will hear that Michelle was, perhaps not surprisingly, caused considerable distress by this call,” Stevens said.
Merritt was so concerned that she called the police and reported the incident but requested that criminal proceedings should not be pursued, the prosecution alleged.
The police spoke to Webbe in April 2019 and said she must not have any further contact with Merritt.
The prosecution alleges that call data shows there Webbe made a further 16 calls to Merritt after April 2019.
Webbe, from Islington, north London, stood in the dock wearing a black suit, to confirm her name, date of birth and address, before sitting next to her solicitor as the case against her was opened. She denies a single count of harassment.
Webbe entered the Commons in December 2019, winning the seat formerly held by Keith Vaz, the Labour veteran who retired from parliament in the wake of a scandal. She was a councillor in Islington between 2010 and 2018 and was a member of Labour’s ruling national executive committee.
Earlier in her career, she was a political adviser to the then London mayor Ken Livingstone. The trial, which is due to last one day in front of chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, continues.
Claudia Webbe, 56, allegedly became “obsessed” with Michelle Merritt due to her friendship with the Leicester East MP’s partner, Lester Thomas.
Webbe also threatened to reveal naked photographs and videos she supposedly had of Merritt to her family, Westminster magistrates court heard on Monday.
Webbe, who was elected as a Labour MP but has since had the whip withdrawn, denies the charge.
Susannah Stevens, prosecuting, said: “The reason for the harassment appeared to be the fact that Ms Merritt was friends with Lester Thomas and this was an issue for the defendant, Ms Webbe.
“The harassment initially took the form of telephone calls that were made by Ms Webbe to Ms Merritt.”
Made from a withheld number, the calls were silent and of a short duration, the court was told. They tended to occur when Merritt was with Thomas.
Stevens said: “When [Merritt] answered the call, the person on the other end would not respond and would then hang up.”
In October 2018 , Merritt received a call from a number that could be seen. She put the number into the search engine Google, and discovered it belonged to Webbe, the court was told.
“She saw this because the number was available on the internet because Claudia Webbe is a Labour MP and the phone number appears on Labour literature and also a Leicester council website.”
A friend of Merritt asked Webbe to refrain from making calls, but on 31 March 2019, the harassment escalated, the court was told, when she spoke to Merritt.
“Indeed, the crown say that Claudia Webbe was in such a state during this call that not only did she query the nature of the contact and refuse to accept that Ms Merritt and Lester Thomas were just friends. She then went on to say that Ms Merritt was a ‘slag’ and she should ‘be acid’,” Stevens said.
“The defendant further threatened Ms Merritt that naked photographs and videos of her would be sent to Ms Merritt’s children.
“The court will hear that Michelle was, perhaps not surprisingly, caused considerable distress by this call,” Stevens said.
Merritt was so concerned that she called the police and reported the incident but requested that criminal proceedings should not be pursued, the prosecution alleged.
The police spoke to Webbe in April 2019 and said she must not have any further contact with Merritt.
The prosecution alleges that call data shows there Webbe made a further 16 calls to Merritt after April 2019.
Webbe, from Islington, north London, stood in the dock wearing a black suit, to confirm her name, date of birth and address, before sitting next to her solicitor as the case against her was opened. She denies a single count of harassment.
Webbe entered the Commons in December 2019, winning the seat formerly held by Keith Vaz, the Labour veteran who retired from parliament in the wake of a scandal. She was a councillor in Islington between 2010 and 2018 and was a member of Labour’s ruling national executive committee.
Earlier in her career, she was a political adviser to the then London mayor Ken Livingstone. The trial, which is due to last one day in front of chief magistrate Paul Goldspring, continues.
Cleveland's police and crime commissioner has been referred to the police watchdog over a caution for theft he received in the 1990s.
Steve Turner has admitted receiving the police caution while working as a manager at a supermarket.
Middlesbrough Labour MP Andy McDonald used parliamentary privilege to claim he had been sacked by a former employer for "systematic theft".
Mr Turner said he had "voluntarily" resigned and was not sacked.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received two referrals concerning Mr Turner's conduct from the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel, which scrutinises the PCC's work and decisions.
The IOPC said "any indication a criminal offence may have been committed" by a PCC must be referred and it would then "determine whether the matter should be criminally investigated".
Two referrals were "being assessed to determine what further action may be required from us", a spokesman said.
Police HQ
Image caption,
Mr Turner's elected role oversees the running of Cleveland Police
In an open letter on his social media Mr Turner said he made a "stupid error" and it had been a "minor incident".
He also insisted he had "diligently followed all the rules" governing the appointment of police and crime commissioners.
Mr McDonald said he was unfit to hold office and should step down with immediate effect, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Turner's office said: "We extend our full co-operation to the panel and the IOPC and we will assist them with any inquiries they need to make."
Steve Turner has admitted receiving the police caution while working as a manager at a supermarket.
Middlesbrough Labour MP Andy McDonald used parliamentary privilege to claim he had been sacked by a former employer for "systematic theft".
Mr Turner said he had "voluntarily" resigned and was not sacked.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received two referrals concerning Mr Turner's conduct from the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel, which scrutinises the PCC's work and decisions.
The IOPC said "any indication a criminal offence may have been committed" by a PCC must be referred and it would then "determine whether the matter should be criminally investigated".
Two referrals were "being assessed to determine what further action may be required from us", a spokesman said.
Police HQ
Image caption,
Mr Turner's elected role oversees the running of Cleveland Police
In an open letter on his social media Mr Turner said he made a "stupid error" and it had been a "minor incident".
He also insisted he had "diligently followed all the rules" governing the appointment of police and crime commissioners.
Mr McDonald said he was unfit to hold office and should step down with immediate effect, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Turner's office said: "We extend our full co-operation to the panel and the IOPC and we will assist them with any inquiries they need to make."
Lord Janner: Police shut down MP child abuse investigations - report
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-58932593
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-58932593
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A councillor has been jailed for 18 weeks after sending a "grossly offensive" and threatening email.
Peter Little, 37, sent the message to Allerdale Council's chief executive, Andrew Seekings, in September in which he threatened him and the Tory MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson.
Little, from Maryport, Cumbria, pleaded guilty at Workington Magistrates' Court to sending an offensive message.
Mr Jenkinson said abuse had become "an accepted part of political life".
"That has to change," he said.
"It is a very tiny, loud minority that think it's acceptable to make these threats."
In the email Little used a sexual swear word to suggest Mr Seekings and Mr Jenkinson would come to harm.
The MP said the independent councillor's actions were "much worse" because the email had been sent to a council official who had not put himself into the political arena.
"That's not to justify attacks on elected members in any way but he's a paid officer going about his job and absolutely does not deserve to be subjected to any that," he said.
Restraining order
Politicians have been sharing stories of the abuse they have been experienced in light of the murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess on Friday.
Mr Jenkinson said: "Today's robust action from Cumbria Police, the CPS and Workington's magistrates - and their defence of both individuals and democracy - is welcomed."
Little, of Grasmere Terrace, had already been given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, plus a restraining order, in August after he admitted two other charges of threatening behaviour.
He had been told he could keep his seat on the council because the sentence was shorter than the three months required by law to disqualify him as a councillor, but he was removed from his political group, Allerdale Independents.
He has been sentenced to six weeks in prison for sending the "grossly offensive" email, a spokesperson for Workington Magistrates' Court said.
The suspended sentence was activated and will be served consecutively.
Peter Little, 37, sent the message to Allerdale Council's chief executive, Andrew Seekings, in September in which he threatened him and the Tory MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson.
Little, from Maryport, Cumbria, pleaded guilty at Workington Magistrates' Court to sending an offensive message.
Mr Jenkinson said abuse had become "an accepted part of political life".
"That has to change," he said.
"It is a very tiny, loud minority that think it's acceptable to make these threats."
In the email Little used a sexual swear word to suggest Mr Seekings and Mr Jenkinson would come to harm.
The MP said the independent councillor's actions were "much worse" because the email had been sent to a council official who had not put himself into the political arena.
"That's not to justify attacks on elected members in any way but he's a paid officer going about his job and absolutely does not deserve to be subjected to any that," he said.
Restraining order
Politicians have been sharing stories of the abuse they have been experienced in light of the murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess on Friday.
Mr Jenkinson said: "Today's robust action from Cumbria Police, the CPS and Workington's magistrates - and their defence of both individuals and democracy - is welcomed."
Little, of Grasmere Terrace, had already been given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, plus a restraining order, in August after he admitted two other charges of threatening behaviour.
He had been told he could keep his seat on the council because the sentence was shorter than the three months required by law to disqualify him as a councillor, but he was removed from his political group, Allerdale Independents.
He has been sentenced to six weeks in prison for sending the "grossly offensive" email, a spokesperson for Workington Magistrates' Court said.
The suspended sentence was activated and will be served consecutively.
An MP has been readmitted to the Conservative party, despite having been found to have sexually harassed a member of staff.
Rob Roberts had his party membership suspended for 12 weeks and was also banned from the House of Commons for six weeks, after an independent panel found he made repeated and unwanted sexual advances towards someone who worked in his office and used “his position as his employer to place him under pressure to accede”.
Rob Roberts had his party membership suspended for 12 weeks and was also banned from the House of Commons for six weeks, after an independent panel found he made repeated and unwanted sexual advances towards someone who worked in his office and used “his position as his employer to place him under pressure to accede”.
An MP who made threatening phone calls to a woman because she was jealous of her relationship with her partner has been given a suspended sentence.
Claudia Webbe, 56, a former Labour MP for Leicester East who is now independent, was convicted of one charge of harassment last month.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard she made several calls over two years and threatened the woman with acid.
Webbe was handed a 10-week sentence, suspended for two years.
Claudia Webbe, 56, a former Labour MP for Leicester East who is now independent, was convicted of one charge of harassment last month.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard she made several calls over two years and threatened the woman with acid.
Webbe was handed a 10-week sentence, suspended for two years.
Stanley Johnson, the former MEP and father of the prime minister, has been accused of inappropriately touching a senior Conservative MP.
Caroline Nokes, a former minister and chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said the incident took place at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool in 2003, when she was in her early 30s.
Ms Nokes, who has represented Romsey and Southampton North in the Commons since 2010, was at the time the prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency ahead of the 2005 general election.
She told Sky News, "I can remember a really prominent man - at the time the Conservative candidate for Teignbridge in Devon - smacking me on the backside about as hard as he could and going, 'oh, Romsey, you've got a lovely seat'."
The candidate was Stanley Johnson, who later failed to get elected.
Caroline Nokes, a former minister and chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said the incident took place at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool in 2003, when she was in her early 30s.
Ms Nokes, who has represented Romsey and Southampton North in the Commons since 2010, was at the time the prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency ahead of the 2005 general election.
She told Sky News, "I can remember a really prominent man - at the time the Conservative candidate for Teignbridge in Devon - smacking me on the backside about as hard as he could and going, 'oh, Romsey, you've got a lovely seat'."
The candidate was Stanley Johnson, who later failed to get elected.
Sky News approached Mr Johnson for comment in relation to the allegation. He said: "I have no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all - but there you go. And no reply... Hey ho, good luck and thanks."
Describing her recollection, Ms Nokes said: "I would have been in my early 30s, so old enough, old enough to call it out."
Describing her recollection, Ms Nokes said: "I would have been in my early 30s, so old enough, old enough to call it out."
Rachel Wearmouth
@REWearmouth
·
1h
Disgraced former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke - who was convicted of 3 counts of sexual assault against 2 women - is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court for non-payment of a £35k fine tomorrow
(He was convicted July 2020 & released from an open prison in Sep 2021)
@REWearmouth
·
1h
Disgraced former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke - who was convicted of 3 counts of sexual assault against 2 women - is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court for non-payment of a £35k fine tomorrow
(He was convicted July 2020 & released from an open prison in Sep 2021)
The current Tories are just so corrupt.
Rarely a week goes by without a Tory being found with their hands in the till or pants round their ankles.
Rarely a week goes by without a Tory being found with their hands in the till or pants round their ankles.
The current Tories are just so corrupt.
Rarely a week goes by without a Tory being found with their hands in the till or pants round their ankles.
Rarely a week goes by without a Tory being found with their hands in the till or pants round their ankles.
If Elphicke is short of money to pay his fine I am sure someone will be found to pay the fine in return for a nice Tory bung. A knighthood should fix it.
A former council leader who stole nearly £30,000 from Conservative Party coffers to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed for 14 months.
Giles McNeill, 40, cashed £20,000 of forged cheques and pocketed £9,365 in cash, including payments from members to attend a Boris Johnson speech.
Lincoln Crown Court heard McNeill stole the money over a six-year period between 2014 and 2020.
Judge John Pini QC described his conduct as "a gross breach of trust".
McNeill, who was leader of West Lindsey District Council from May 2019 to September 2020, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft by an employee, fraud by abuse of position and forgery.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: "Over a period of six years between 2014 and 2020 he defrauded local Conservative associations and individual members out of almost £30,000."
The court heard McNeil forged 93 cheques in total, including 35 from the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association (GCCA), and 25 from the West Lindsey District Council Constituency Conservative Association.
His actions only came to light when Tracey Coulson took over as treasurer at the GCCA in 2019.
Giles McNeill, 40, cashed £20,000 of forged cheques and pocketed £9,365 in cash, including payments from members to attend a Boris Johnson speech.
Lincoln Crown Court heard McNeill stole the money over a six-year period between 2014 and 2020.
Judge John Pini QC described his conduct as "a gross breach of trust".
McNeill, who was leader of West Lindsey District Council from May 2019 to September 2020, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft by an employee, fraud by abuse of position and forgery.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: "Over a period of six years between 2014 and 2020 he defrauded local Conservative associations and individual members out of almost £30,000."
The court heard McNeil forged 93 cheques in total, including 35 from the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association (GCCA), and 25 from the West Lindsey District Council Constituency Conservative Association.
His actions only came to light when Tracey Coulson took over as treasurer at the GCCA in 2019.
So Giles gets 14 months to nicking off the stinking sleazy corrupt Tory Party.
The Sleazy corrupt Tory Government nicks billions in dodgy PPEgate contacts from us, the public who pay their wages, and what do they get? A seat in the Lords.
The Sleazy corrupt Tory Government nicks billions in dodgy PPEgate contacts from us, the public who pay their wages, and what do they get? A seat in the Lords.
A former Conservative councillor has been convicted of killing his wife by deliberately running her over with his car outside their French home in 2017.
David Turtle, 67, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Stephanie, 50, and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
The Cahors Criminal Court found that he had intentionally driven over his wife with his Mercedes car after a heated argument over a television programme.
Turtle denies murdering his wife. He said he intends to appeal the verdict.
He told the court in south-west France that his wife's death had been a tragic accident and had followed an evening of arguments at the home in Prayssac, near Cahors, over what to watch on television.
Turtle said he fell asleep on the couch following the initial row, before his wife woke him after midnight and the argument intensified.
He claimed he decided to go for a drive and did not realise that his wife was in front of the car.
Patrick Serra, the public prosecutor, dismissed Turtle's version of events.
He told the court that his office was convinced that David Turtle "could not fail to have been aware of the fact that his wife was in front of the car when [he] started to drive it. Mr Turtle started the car. If she was in front of it on the ground, wouldn't she have stood up? Wouldn't she have shouted?".
Police said Ms Turtle had suffered a crushed rib cage, injuries to her collarbone, abdomen, pelvis and lungs and was found beneath a car by firefighters the following morning.
Officers said they believed that Ms Turtle had lain down in front of the car to stop her husband leaving.
Turtle served as a Conservative councillor on the Bournemouth Council from May 2015 to July 2016.
He resigned his position to move to France with his wife, where the couple opened a guest house business.
David Turtle, 67, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Stephanie, 50, and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
The Cahors Criminal Court found that he had intentionally driven over his wife with his Mercedes car after a heated argument over a television programme.
Turtle denies murdering his wife. He said he intends to appeal the verdict.
He told the court in south-west France that his wife's death had been a tragic accident and had followed an evening of arguments at the home in Prayssac, near Cahors, over what to watch on television.
Turtle said he fell asleep on the couch following the initial row, before his wife woke him after midnight and the argument intensified.
He claimed he decided to go for a drive and did not realise that his wife was in front of the car.
Patrick Serra, the public prosecutor, dismissed Turtle's version of events.
He told the court that his office was convinced that David Turtle "could not fail to have been aware of the fact that his wife was in front of the car when [he] started to drive it. Mr Turtle started the car. If she was in front of it on the ground, wouldn't she have stood up? Wouldn't she have shouted?".
Police said Ms Turtle had suffered a crushed rib cage, injuries to her collarbone, abdomen, pelvis and lungs and was found beneath a car by firefighters the following morning.
Officers said they believed that Ms Turtle had lain down in front of the car to stop her husband leaving.
Turtle served as a Conservative councillor on the Bournemouth Council from May 2015 to July 2016.
He resigned his position to move to France with his wife, where the couple opened a guest house business.
A former council cabinet member tried to fraudulently claim thousands from the government's Covid recovery fund.
Harman Banger, 40, and his wife Neena Kumari, 38, of Bilston Road, in Wolverhampton, applied for £10,000 for a defunct pizza restaurant.
The money was not awarded after police found the restaurant was in a state of disrepair and was not even connected to an electricity supply.
The pair were both found guilty of fraud by false representation.
After appearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, the couple were granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing at the city's Crown court on 14 January.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Banger had used his knowledge from having cabinet responsibilities at the City of Wolverhampton Council to "cheat the system".
His wife submitted an application in April 2020 for a small business grant for the firm they both owned, Pizza Plus, claiming it had been operating since October 2019.
With support from West Midlands Police, the council's own counter-fraud team found the business had not been connected to electricity until the month after the application was submitted. The restaurant was also boarded up and clearly not in operation.
The CPS said Mr Banger, who suspended from Labour when allegations emerged, "abused his position of power... in order to defraud the public at a time of national crisis".
In the week before his arrest in June 2020, he had stood down from his cabinet job for city economy
Harman Banger, 40, and his wife Neena Kumari, 38, of Bilston Road, in Wolverhampton, applied for £10,000 for a defunct pizza restaurant.
The money was not awarded after police found the restaurant was in a state of disrepair and was not even connected to an electricity supply.
The pair were both found guilty of fraud by false representation.
After appearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, the couple were granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing at the city's Crown court on 14 January.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Banger had used his knowledge from having cabinet responsibilities at the City of Wolverhampton Council to "cheat the system".
His wife submitted an application in April 2020 for a small business grant for the firm they both owned, Pizza Plus, claiming it had been operating since October 2019.
With support from West Midlands Police, the council's own counter-fraud team found the business had not been connected to electricity until the month after the application was submitted. The restaurant was also boarded up and clearly not in operation.
The CPS said Mr Banger, who suspended from Labour when allegations emerged, "abused his position of power... in order to defraud the public at a time of national crisis".
In the week before his arrest in June 2020, he had stood down from his cabinet job for city economy
A former Labour peer has been found guilty of sexual offences against two children in the 1970s.
Lord Ahmed of Rotherham was convicted of a serious sexual assault against a boy and the attempted rape of a young girl.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the repeated sexual abuse happened in Rotherham when he was a teenager.
The 64-year-old, who appeared under his real name of Nazir Ahmed, had denied the charges.
Judge Mr Justice Lavender will decide later when Lord Ahmed will be sentenced.
Lord Ahmed of Rotherham was convicted of a serious sexual assault against a boy and the attempted rape of a young girl.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the repeated sexual abuse happened in Rotherham when he was a teenager.
The 64-year-old, who appeared under his real name of Nazir Ahmed, had denied the charges.
Judge Mr Justice Lavender will decide later when Lord Ahmed will be sentenced.
A former East Riding councillor who became"obsessed" with an escort and set fire to her workplace has avoided jail.
Keith Moore, 75, admitted stalking the woman and setting fire to the doorway of the Hull massage parlour where she worked.
Hull Crown Court heard the former North Ward, Goole councillor became jealous of the woman meeting other clients and started threatening her.
Moore, who resigned in November, was given a 24-month suspended sentence.
The court heard the former Labour politician had been using escort services for five years before he became jealous of one woman he felt he had become close to.
Keith Moore, 75, admitted stalking the woman and setting fire to the doorway of the Hull massage parlour where she worked.
Hull Crown Court heard the former North Ward, Goole councillor became jealous of the woman meeting other clients and started threatening her.
Moore, who resigned in November, was given a 24-month suspended sentence.
The court heard the former Labour politician had been using escort services for five years before he became jealous of one woman he felt he had become close to.
A councillor has been charged with common assault after an altercation outside council offices, police said.
Labour councillor Roy Stephen Melia, known as Steve Melia, is accused following an incident outside Sandwell Council last year.
"We've charged a 75-year-old man with assault following an altercation on Freeth Street in Oldbury, Sandwell around 4pm on 7 December," police said.
Mr Melia is to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 10 February.
He represents the Great Barr with Yew Tree ward, which he was elected to in 2010 and 2018, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The councillor, of Wednesbury, was nominated as Sandwell's Armed Forces Champion last year.
Labour councillor Roy Stephen Melia, known as Steve Melia, is accused following an incident outside Sandwell Council last year.
"We've charged a 75-year-old man with assault following an altercation on Freeth Street in Oldbury, Sandwell around 4pm on 7 December," police said.
Mr Melia is to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 10 February.
He represents the Great Barr with Yew Tree ward, which he was elected to in 2010 and 2018, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The councillor, of Wednesbury, was nominated as Sandwell's Armed Forces Champion last year.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is being investigated by the parliamentary watchdog over claims of lobbying and failing to fully declare interests.
Last month, The Times said he accepted £5,000 through his local Conservative association from a firm after having raised its tax issues with a minister.
The paper said Mr Bridgen contacted the minister following a trip to the firm's teak plantation in Ghana in 2019.
The MP told the BBC the trip and donation had been "fully declared".
He said the accusations being investigated by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone were a "repeat of the allegations made in an article by The Times" and that he had "never personally received any money from Mere Plantations or anyone associated with them".
Mr Bridgen also has an advisory role with the company, Mere Plantations, which the BBC has been told is unpaid.
According to his declaration to the Electoral Commission, Mr Bridgen's trip to Ghana in August 2019, paid for by Mere Plantations, was worth £3,300.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Bridgen said the aim of his trip was to see the company's plantation so he could "write a letter to Inland Revenue saying this is not a tax scam".
Following his trip, Mr Bridgen contacted Africa Minister Andrew Stephenson to raise concerns about problems the company, which is UK registered, was having in being recognised by HMRC.
In October 2019, the company made a donation to Mr Bridgen's local North West Leicestershire Conservative Association, which is also registered on the Electoral Commission website.
Mere Plantations has been approached for comment.
MPs are allowed to lobby the government on behalf of their constituents, however there are rules in place to ensure they do not take advantage of their position for reasons other than the best interests of the people who elected them.
MPs have to declare any jobs they have or that a member of their family has that could influence their opinions.
They are not allowed to take money for raising issues in the House of Commons or with ministers.
MPs are not allowed to lobby for any person or organisation within six months of receiving any money from them as a donation.
Following the lobbying row involving Owen Paterson, the government asked the standards committee to draw up news rules banning MPs from working as political consultants.
Last month, The Times said he accepted £5,000 through his local Conservative association from a firm after having raised its tax issues with a minister.
The paper said Mr Bridgen contacted the minister following a trip to the firm's teak plantation in Ghana in 2019.
The MP told the BBC the trip and donation had been "fully declared".
He said the accusations being investigated by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone were a "repeat of the allegations made in an article by The Times" and that he had "never personally received any money from Mere Plantations or anyone associated with them".
Mr Bridgen also has an advisory role with the company, Mere Plantations, which the BBC has been told is unpaid.
According to his declaration to the Electoral Commission, Mr Bridgen's trip to Ghana in August 2019, paid for by Mere Plantations, was worth £3,300.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Bridgen said the aim of his trip was to see the company's plantation so he could "write a letter to Inland Revenue saying this is not a tax scam".
Following his trip, Mr Bridgen contacted Africa Minister Andrew Stephenson to raise concerns about problems the company, which is UK registered, was having in being recognised by HMRC.
In October 2019, the company made a donation to Mr Bridgen's local North West Leicestershire Conservative Association, which is also registered on the Electoral Commission website.
Mere Plantations has been approached for comment.
MPs are allowed to lobby the government on behalf of their constituents, however there are rules in place to ensure they do not take advantage of their position for reasons other than the best interests of the people who elected them.
MPs have to declare any jobs they have or that a member of their family has that could influence their opinions.
They are not allowed to take money for raising issues in the House of Commons or with ministers.
MPs are not allowed to lobby for any person or organisation within six months of receiving any money from them as a donation.
Following the lobbying row involving Owen Paterson, the government asked the standards committee to draw up news rules banning MPs from working as political consultants.
Seems he has refused to withdraw his letter
so we get this.
How many more being blackmailed...
so we get this.
How many more being blackmailed...
Wakefield Express
@WakeExpress
·
44m
The jury has been sworn in at the trial of Wakefield MP Imran Khan at Southwark Crown Court this morning. He faces a single charge of sexual assault on a boy from 2008.
@WakeExpress
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44m
The jury has been sworn in at the trial of Wakefield MP Imran Khan at Southwark Crown Court this morning. He faces a single charge of sexual assault on a boy from 2008.
A man was left "scared and shocked" after an MP sexually assaulted him when was 15 years old, a court has heard.
Imran Ahmad Khan, now 48, is accused of groping the boy at a house party in Staffordshire in 2008.
In an interview played to jurors at Southwark Crown Court, the man, now 29, described how Mr Khan groped him in his bunkbed.
Mr Khan, who was elected as the Conservative MP for Wakefield in 2019, denies one charge of sexual assault.
The man told police in the interview that Mr Khan had watched him doing pull-ups and then followed him after he went to bed.
Imran Ahmad Khan, now 48, is accused of groping the boy at a house party in Staffordshire in 2008.
In an interview played to jurors at Southwark Crown Court, the man, now 29, described how Mr Khan groped him in his bunkbed.
Mr Khan, who was elected as the Conservative MP for Wakefield in 2019, denies one charge of sexual assault.
The man told police in the interview that Mr Khan had watched him doing pull-ups and then followed him after he went to bed.
Tory MP David Warburton is suspended after he was alleged to have sexually assaulted three women and pictured with cocaine
He's under investigation by parliamentary authorities
MP also took undisclosed £100k loan from a Russian businessman
!
One former aide says Warburton coerced her into returning to his taxpayer funded flat in Westminster
He then allegedly kissed her, stroked her hair and touched her thigh, having touched her bottom and thigh on other occasions
She’s now on indefinite sick leave
A second aide says Warburton brought her to his flat, touched her against her will and physically stopped her from leaving
She's been moved to office of a woman MP
Both women struggled to address his conduct internally as the parliamentary aide responsible for HR is his wife
A third woman, who met the MP through politics, says he insisted on coming to her home when she was drunk
He allegedly asked her to order cocaine for him, did “line after line”
She was uncomfortable and went to her room to put her pyjamas on to encourage him to leave
But she says when she emerged Warburton was naked, telling her he always sleeps naked
He then allegedly got into bed with her, grinded on her body and groped her, while she was frozen
Woman had warned MP she didn’t wish to have sex with him, evidence shows
The next day he texted her asking to meet and saying “promise I won’t remove all my clothes again”
He also texted her about “cheeky coke” and procuring the drug when he was on a one line whip meaning he didn’t have to be in Westminster
The pair haven’t met since
The Russian businessman behind the loan was Roman Joukovski
His firm specialised in off-shore wealth and “golden visas” for oligarchs - but it went into administration last yr after FCA banned it from regulated activity, said it had acted “dishonestly or recklessly”
In 2014, FCA had refused to certify him as a fit and proper person
Warburton knew this but took >£100k from him in 2017.
A source said the cash came from offshore entity linked to Joukovski's family trust and into the MP’s personal account
MPs must declare financial interests if they have any bearing on their parliamentary work
Warburton brought Joukovski, who isn't a constituent, into Westminster and brokered meetings for him, incl one w/Jacob Rees Mogg. He got him involved in APPG
He never disclosed the loan
@Gabriel_Pogrund twitter
He's under investigation by parliamentary authorities
MP also took undisclosed £100k loan from a Russian businessman
!
One former aide says Warburton coerced her into returning to his taxpayer funded flat in Westminster
He then allegedly kissed her, stroked her hair and touched her thigh, having touched her bottom and thigh on other occasions
She’s now on indefinite sick leave
A second aide says Warburton brought her to his flat, touched her against her will and physically stopped her from leaving
She's been moved to office of a woman MP
Both women struggled to address his conduct internally as the parliamentary aide responsible for HR is his wife
A third woman, who met the MP through politics, says he insisted on coming to her home when she was drunk
He allegedly asked her to order cocaine for him, did “line after line”
She was uncomfortable and went to her room to put her pyjamas on to encourage him to leave
But she says when she emerged Warburton was naked, telling her he always sleeps naked
He then allegedly got into bed with her, grinded on her body and groped her, while she was frozen
Woman had warned MP she didn’t wish to have sex with him, evidence shows
The next day he texted her asking to meet and saying “promise I won’t remove all my clothes again”
He also texted her about “cheeky coke” and procuring the drug when he was on a one line whip meaning he didn’t have to be in Westminster
The pair haven’t met since
The Russian businessman behind the loan was Roman Joukovski
His firm specialised in off-shore wealth and “golden visas” for oligarchs - but it went into administration last yr after FCA banned it from regulated activity, said it had acted “dishonestly or recklessly”
In 2014, FCA had refused to certify him as a fit and proper person
Warburton knew this but took >£100k from him in 2017.
A source said the cash came from offshore entity linked to Joukovski's family trust and into the MP’s personal account
MPs must declare financial interests if they have any bearing on their parliamentary work
Warburton brought Joukovski, who isn't a constituent, into Westminster and brokered meetings for him, incl one w/Jacob Rees Mogg. He got him involved in APPG
He never disclosed the loan
@Gabriel_Pogrund twitter
Won the last 3 elections at his Somerset and Frome constituency with majorities 50%+.
Probably thought he could do what he fancies.
Took over the Tory mantle from one of grease-mogg's daughters who had previously held the S&F seat.
Interesting to see what happens in the local election there in May
Probably thought he could do what he fancies.
Took over the Tory mantle from one of grease-mogg's daughters who had previously held the S&F seat.
Interesting to see what happens in the local election there in May
*was the Tory candidate - marginally finished runner-up in 2010
An MP has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Imran Ahmad Khan, who was elected as Conservative MP for Wakefield in 2019, had denied groping the teenager at a party in Staffordshire in January 2008.
Southwark Crown Court heard Khan forced the youngster to drink gin, dragged him upstairs and asked him to watch pornography before assaulting him.
Khan, 48, who has been suspended by the Conservative Party, was found guilty after a week-long trial.
Imran Ahmad Khan, who was elected as Conservative MP for Wakefield in 2019, had denied groping the teenager at a party in Staffordshire in January 2008.
Southwark Crown Court heard Khan forced the youngster to drink gin, dragged him upstairs and asked him to watch pornography before assaulting him.
Khan, 48, who has been suspended by the Conservative Party, was found guilty after a week-long trial.
Labour MP Liam Byrne has been found to have bullied a former member of staff and will be suspended from the Commons for two days.
The ex-Cabinet minister and MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill ostracised a former assistant after a minor office dispute, an investigation found.
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone said his behaviour was a "significant misuse of power".
Mr Byrne said he had apologised and was "profoundly sorry".
A number of other allegations relating to unreasonable behaviour by Mr Byrne and pressure to work excessive hours were not upheld, the report found.
The investigation was started almost two years ago after complaints were made by the MP's former assistant David Barker to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).
The ex-Cabinet minister and MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill ostracised a former assistant after a minor office dispute, an investigation found.
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone said his behaviour was a "significant misuse of power".
Mr Byrne said he had apologised and was "profoundly sorry".
A number of other allegations relating to unreasonable behaviour by Mr Byrne and pressure to work excessive hours were not upheld, the report found.
The investigation was started almost two years ago after complaints were made by the MP's former assistant David Barker to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).
Conservative MP Jamie Wallis has been charged with failing to stop after a car crash last November.
South Wales Police said Mr Wallis, 37, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, has also been charged with failing to report the crash, careless driving and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.
Police said the alleged incident happened in Llanblethian, near Cowbridge.
He will appear in court next month.
In March, Mr Wallis became the first MP to come out as trans.
He was elected to represent Bridgend at the 2019 general election, unseating Labour for the first time in three decades.
Prior to entering the Commons he studied chemistry at Oxford University, and was a director at data recovery firm Fields Associates.
In a statement, South Wales Police said it had been "been investigating a road traffic collision which happened in Llanblethian, Cowbridge, in the early hours of Sunday, November 28, 2021.
"Jamie Wallis, 37, from Cowbridge has been charged with failing to stop following a road traffic collision, failure to report a road traffic collision, driving without due care and attention and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position."
South Wales Police said Mr Wallis, 37, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, has also been charged with failing to report the crash, careless driving and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.
Police said the alleged incident happened in Llanblethian, near Cowbridge.
He will appear in court next month.
In March, Mr Wallis became the first MP to come out as trans.
He was elected to represent Bridgend at the 2019 general election, unseating Labour for the first time in three decades.
Prior to entering the Commons he studied chemistry at Oxford University, and was a director at data recovery firm Fields Associates.
In a statement, South Wales Police said it had been "been investigating a road traffic collision which happened in Llanblethian, Cowbridge, in the early hours of Sunday, November 28, 2021.
"Jamie Wallis, 37, from Cowbridge has been charged with failing to stop following a road traffic collision, failure to report a road traffic collision, driving without due care and attention and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position."
A police officer has told a jury how former MP Natalie McGarry took refuge in a toilet as he read out a search warrant for her home.
Det Con Brian Butler said Ms McGarry was "angry and distressed" when he arrived at the house on 19 May 2016.
He said she closed the door on his face and did not conduct herself in a way "befitting of her position".
Ms McGarry, 40, is accused of stealing more than £25,000 from two pro-independence organisations .
The former SNP MP for Glasgow East allegedly embezzled £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between April 2013 and November 2015.
A second charge states Ms McGarry took £4,661 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP between April 2014 and August 2015.
She denies the two charges.
Det Con Brian Butler said Ms McGarry was "angry and distressed" when he arrived at the house on 19 May 2016.
He said she closed the door on his face and did not conduct herself in a way "befitting of her position".
Ms McGarry, 40, is accused of stealing more than £25,000 from two pro-independence organisations .
The former SNP MP for Glasgow East allegedly embezzled £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between April 2013 and November 2015.
A second charge states Ms McGarry took £4,661 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP between April 2014 and August 2015.
She denies the two charges.
Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry has been found guilty of embezzling £25,000 from two pro-independence groups.
The jury returned the majority verdicts on two charges after three hours of deliberations.
It was alleged during the six-week trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court that McGarry spent some of the money on expenses such as rent and shopping.
Her lawyers admitted that her finances were "disorganised" and "chaotic", but she denied both charges against her.
They related to funds embezzled from Women For Independence (WIFI) and the Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.
The jury returned the majority verdicts on two charges after three hours of deliberations.
It was alleged during the six-week trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court that McGarry spent some of the money on expenses such as rent and shopping.
Her lawyers admitted that her finances were "disorganised" and "chaotic", but she denied both charges against her.
They related to funds embezzled from Women For Independence (WIFI) and the Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.
Another Tory MP arrested for rape and sexual assault. It supposedly went on over a 7-year period. What on earth is wrong with these people? The "Naughty Tory" concept is clearly endemic. Shame on @Conservatives for not rooting this out.
A former Labour MP has been ordered to pay more than £434,000 to a parliamentary worker he sexually assaulted, harassed and victimised.
A tribunal in July last year found ex-Hartlepool MP Mike Hill subjected the woman, known as Ms A, to "detrimental treatment" over a 16-month period.
It heard this followed the woman's rejection of his sexual advances.
Ms A's lawyer said she was "delighted" with the result but concerned about the award being paid.
"The House of Commons' insurance policy which is provided to all MPs has been all but depleted by the legal fees of Mr Hill," Suzanne McKie QC said.
The Central London Employment Tribunal heard Mr Hill had got into bed with Ms A, rubbed his groin against her and attempted to touch her breasts.
It heard Mr Hill told the claimant he loved her and begged her to work for him but she had rejected his unwanted advances.
He then deactivated her security pass and did not give her a promised pay rise.
A tribunal in July last year found ex-Hartlepool MP Mike Hill subjected the woman, known as Ms A, to "detrimental treatment" over a 16-month period.
It heard this followed the woman's rejection of his sexual advances.
Ms A's lawyer said she was "delighted" with the result but concerned about the award being paid.
"The House of Commons' insurance policy which is provided to all MPs has been all but depleted by the legal fees of Mr Hill," Suzanne McKie QC said.
The Central London Employment Tribunal heard Mr Hill had got into bed with Ms A, rubbed his groin against her and attempted to touch her breasts.
It heard Mr Hill told the claimant he loved her and begged her to work for him but she had rejected his unwanted advances.
He then deactivated her security pass and did not give her a promised pay rise.
A former Conservative MP has been jailed for 18 months following his conviction for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
At a trial last month, Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, who was elected as Wakefield MP in 2019, was found guilty of groping the boy at a party in 2008.
Khan was expelled by the Conservative party following his conviction and later stood down as an MP.
The judge said he did not accept Khan had "any remorse" for what he had done.
At a trial last month, Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, who was elected as Wakefield MP in 2019, was found guilty of groping the boy at a party in 2008.
Khan was expelled by the Conservative party following his conviction and later stood down as an MP.
The judge said he did not accept Khan had "any remorse" for what he had done.
#Breaking Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe, 57, has lost her appeal at Southwark Crown Court against her conviction for harassing a love rival
JUST IN: @metpoliceuk are making inquiries into sexual assault allegation made about SNP MP Patrick Grady - Sunday Times
Odd that they name him given recent tory arrests!
Odd that they name him given recent tory arrests!
Yes that is odd considering they haven't named the tory MP allegedly charged with rape and multiple sexual assaults.
Last 2 tories arrested on rape allegations have been unnamed
Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry has been jailed for embezzling £25,000 from two pro-independence groups.
The 40-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison.
She was found guilty last month of embezzling £19,974 while treasurer of Women For Independence and £4,661 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.
McGarry was the MP for Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017.
In December 2019 McGarry had an earlier conviction for embezzlement quashed after judges ruled she had suffered a miscarriage of justice.
The 40-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison.
She was found guilty last month of embezzling £19,974 while treasurer of Women For Independence and £4,661 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.
McGarry was the MP for Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017.
In December 2019 McGarry had an earlier conviction for embezzlement quashed after judges ruled she had suffered a miscarriage of justice.
Boris Johnson has been accused of turning a blind eye to claims of his deputy chief whip’s alleged sexual misconduct.
As more allegations of unwanted passes and groping emerged on Saturday night, The Telegraph can reveal that the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Mr Pincher to help oversee party discipline in February prompted the resignation of Craig Whittaker, another senior whip.
A senior government source said: “He remonstrated over Pincher’s putative behaviour. He refused to serve. There was considerable ill feeling in the whips’ office about Pincher’s appointment.”
On Saturday night there were allegations – denied by Mr Pincher – that three Conservative MPs were subject to unwanted passes or groping by their colleague.
Mr Pincher gets caught groping. Eventuality The Sleaze withdraws the whip.
You could not make this Tory corruption up.
Every day another stinking greedy corrupt and sleazy Tory is found either with hands in till or pants round ankles.
Johnson, Raab, Patel, go, for God’s sake go. Go now.
As more allegations of unwanted passes and groping emerged on Saturday night, The Telegraph can reveal that the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Mr Pincher to help oversee party discipline in February prompted the resignation of Craig Whittaker, another senior whip.
A senior government source said: “He remonstrated over Pincher’s putative behaviour. He refused to serve. There was considerable ill feeling in the whips’ office about Pincher’s appointment.”
On Saturday night there were allegations – denied by Mr Pincher – that three Conservative MPs were subject to unwanted passes or groping by their colleague.
Mr Pincher gets caught groping. Eventuality The Sleaze withdraws the whip.
You could not make this Tory corruption up.
Every day another stinking greedy corrupt and sleazy Tory is found either with hands in till or pants round ankles.
Johnson, Raab, Patel, go, for God’s sake go. Go now.
A police investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Glasgow MP Patrick Grady has been dropped.
Mr Grady stood away from his SNP membership after newspapers reported officers would be examining claims against him.
But after carrying out inquiries and speaking to the alleged victim it is understood police will be taking no further action at this time.
BBC Scotland has approached the SNP for comment.
Mr Grady stood away from his SNP membership after newspapers reported officers would be examining claims against him.
But after carrying out inquiries and speaking to the alleged victim it is understood police will be taking no further action at this time.
BBC Scotland has approached the SNP for comment.
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