Tory candidate pleads guilty to harassment
The Conservative candidate for Watford, Ian Oakley, has pleaded guilty to five charges of criminal damage and two charges of harassment of his Liberal Democrat opponents.
The plea has led Lib Dem communications chair Edward Davey to write to Tory leader David Cameron urging him to hold an inquiry into the incidents.
The court heard how Mr Oakley damaged Lib Dem property and harassed his rivals Sal Brinton and Russell Willson.
The acts include slashing tyres, the sending of gay and lesbian magazines to Ms Brinton, the sending of letters addressed to ‘Ms Bitchton’ and silent phone calls to her made between August 2006 and March 2008.
Mr Willson had graffiti daubed on his home saying “perv”.
Mr Oakley resigned as the candidate for Watford last month after his arrest.
Chair of magistrates Barry Northrop adjourned sentencing until September 16th to allow psychological reports to be prepared but he told Mr Oakley: “You have pleaded guilty to a large number of very serious offences, particularly taking into account the 68 offences which you have placed before us.
“The pattern has been sustained over approximately two years.
“The nature of this abuse to the victims was particularly offensive.
“Both the harassment and the criminal damage offences were targeted very often to homes of the individuals involved and were vindictive in nature.
“By your own admission this course of action was intimidatory.
“We cannot ignore the stated intent to interfere with the democratic process,” he continued.
“We do have to say that we regard the charges and the offences against you as to be very, very serious indeed – so serious that custody would be an option.”
Mr Davey said: “This was a disgraceful and criminal campaign aimed at intimidating candidates and voters and subverting the democratic process.
“It is vital that David Cameron takes action to determine why Watford Conservatives failed to investigate the matter properly and to ensure that such an appalling course of events is never repeated.”
Ms Brinton said: “I am relieved that Ian Oakley has pleaded guilty and that the nightmare of the last three years may finally be coming to an end.
“This has been a traumatic period for all those who have suffered from his vile campaign to defame, intimidate and terrorise people, simply for expressing support for a political party.”
In his letter to Mr Cameron, Mr Davey said the case raises questions about the Conservative party’s selection process and calls for a full investigation into whether other party members were involved in the events and why the party “failed properly to investigate these very serious issues.”
A Conservative spokesman told politics.co.uk the party could not comment on ongoing court cases.
Mr Oakley was expelled from the party several weeks ago, the spokesman said.
