Recap from first day of trial as Sunderland man Len Lowther stands accused of harassing Labour MP Julie Elliott

The trial has begun of a man charged with the harassment of Sunderland Central Labour MP Julie Elliott.
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Leonard Lowther, 66, of Pier Cottages, Marine Walk, Roker, denies that between February 2018 and October 2018 he harassed her by repeatedly publishing a menacing message and contacted her via Twitter.

The charge also sets out he repeatedly alleged she was guilty of perverting the course of justice and accusing her of conspiring with others to “use Northumbria Police as a personal police force.”

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Rachel Masters, prosecuting at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said the case was set against a lengthy background of issues Lowther has with Sunderland City Council about the redevelopment of sites, including those close to his home.

Leonard Lowther.Leonard Lowther.
Leonard Lowther.

District Judge Kathryn Meek was told an inquiry into the council’s dealings found no issues, other than regarding communications with South Tyneside Council over the plans.

The defendant raised his concerns with Ms Elliott, who carried out her own investigation and found no wrong doing.

The court was told the case centres around a Twitter account he used, along with his personal page on Facebook and a group he was an administrator of called The Problem with Sunderland is Labour.

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It is linked to two other court cases, one against a man convicted of posting the phrase “Hang the old hag” in relation to Ms Elliott – under which Lowther posted the phrase “More of this please”.

It is said Lowther – who sent scores of tweets to Ms Elliott – invited others on his page and via messenger to add the same phrase under the post, which had led to the man’s arrest.

He stated “It’s one rule for them and another for us” because action had not been taken against Labour’s John McDonnell when he made and declined to withdraw his views that Conservative politician Esther McVey should be “lynched.”

The court was told an investigation against another man was closed after police failed to capture their own evidence, reportedly of an image of a woman hanging, shared in a closed group, said to be in reference to the MP.

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A screen grab was sent to police and Ms Elliott’s office by someone who declined to give evidence, leading Lowther to claim it was a “fake document.”

The trial is expected to last two days.

See below for updates from the hearing on Tuesday.