- Written by Jess Warren & PA Media
- BBC news
image source, british parliament
Councilor Mike Freer has announced he will resign at the next general election, citing safety concerns.
The 46-year-old admitted he called Mr Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer’s north London office and said he would “pick them up”.
James Phillips, of Wood Green, admitted making a grossly offensive call and assaulting a police officer.
On the same day, a Conservative MP announced he would resign at the next election following previous death threats and an arson attack on his constituency office.
Mr Phillips appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Mr Freer’s office received three calls on January 31, two of which were from someone who was “breathing heavily” and the third from a man with a “London accent”, prosecutor Adrita Ahmed said. Stated.
The caller said, “I’m here for you,” then uttered an offensive expletive, adding, “It’s not just Mike Freer, it’s you, too.”
“The call was recorded”
Mr Phillips’ phone calls were recorded and employees at Mr Freer’s office recognized the number as belonging to the defendant, the court heard.
He was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday, where he “swung his fist” at a police officer, who “jumped back,” Ahmed told the hearing.
Rita Patel, defending, said Phillips had a history of depression and anxiety.
He was granted conditional bail by Chief Justice Paul Goldspring until sentencing on March 6.
Mr Goldspring told Phillips: “I cannot rule out the possibility of a custodial sentence being imposed.”
A separate investigation into the Christmas Eve arson attack at a member of Parliament’s office is underway, with two men and women facing charges of arson with intent to endanger life.
Police said the two incidents were not related.
In his announcement that he was resigning from his position in Congress, Freer said he could no longer make his family fear for their safety.
The Conservative justice minister said he “narrowly escaped being murdered” by Ali Harbi Ali, who murdered Southend West MP Sir David Amess.
Mr Freer learned Mr Ali had been monitoring Mr Finchley’s office before killing Sir David during his 2021 constituency operation and attended a public event scheduled in the constituency. He said he and his staff wore stab vests when doing so.
In a letter to her local Conservative Party association, Ms Freer wrote that it was “with great difficulty that I resign” but that the attacks “weigh heavily on me and my husband Angelo”.