Recap from day two at court as Len Lowther stands accused of harassing MP Julie Elliott on Twitter

The trial of a Sunderland man accused of harassing a Sunderland MP using social media went into its second day on Wednesday, February 17.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Leonard Lowther denies that between February 2018 and October 2018 he harassed Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott by repeatedly publishing a menacing message online and contacting her via Twitter.

The charge continues to say Lowther, of Pier Cottages in Marine Walk, Roker, repeatedly claimed Ms Elliott was guilty of perverting the course of justice and accused her of conspiring with others to “use Northumbria Police as a personal police force” in online posts and flyers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The case is being heard at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court before District Judge Kathryn Meek and is scheduled to conclude later on Wednesday.

Leonard Lowther, 66, of Pier Cottages, Roker.Leonard Lowther, 66, of Pier Cottages, Roker.
Leonard Lowther, 66, of Pier Cottages, Roker.

Lowther had raised the matter with Ms Elliott, who carried out her own probe, and found no problems with its conduct.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tuesday’s witnesses included Detective Sergeant David Reeves, of Northumbria Police, who detailed the investigation into the 66-year-old.

The court heard the case is linked with a Twitter account belonging to Lowther, his own Facebook page and one called The Problem with Sunderland is Labour, which he was an administrator of.

It is also connected to two other cases, one which led to a conviction of a man who posted the phrase “Hang the old hag” and of another man involving an image of woman hanging.

Screenshots of this second purposed post were sent to police and Ms Elliott’s office, but the case was dropped when police failed to gather evidence independently, leading Lowther to claim it was “fake document” made by the MP and her team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said they had changed the way her office worked, caused concern for both her staff and family and left her unable to walk into the city centre on her own.

See below for updates on how Wednesday’s hearing unfolded. The case has now been adjourned to a date to be determined.