A man was found guilty of harassing and stalking a Member of Parliament including waiting for him outside a Costa Coffee.
Stephen Cowell, 56, also loitered around the office of Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury and confronted him on several occasions. Mr Amesbury said he found Cowell's behaviour 'concerning', while the Crown Prosecution Service said he had become 'increasingly odd and intimidating."
Cowell was found guilty at Warrington Magistrates Court last week and will be sentenced on August 18.
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Cowell was spotted waiting around Mr Amesbury's constituency office near Runcorn Shopping City twice in June last year, approaching the MP on one occasion. He was later seen in the Frodsham area of Cheshire where Mr Amesbury lives on August 3 and was said to be waiting for him at a Costa Coffee shop.
The MP was again confronted as he walked to his car. The MP reported him to the police and Cowell was arrested later that day.
Speaking after the conviction, Mr Amesbury said: "This individual’s behaviour was concerning for me and the team given my public facing role and core responsibility as a Member of Parliament, which is to engage and represent constituents.
“I am naturally approached by people, both known and unknown to me, usually with kind words, case work or political banter. It is extremely rare that people are aggressive or threatening regardless of political affiliation, which is a great credit to the people and community I represent.
“I am just sorry that I now feel that little bit more anxious than before this episode. I know this has had an impact on my staff.
“Both I and the team should be able to operate, whether in the community or down in Westminster, without fear of intimidation or tyranny. Sadly, we know MPs elsewhere have been affected much more seriously, with tragic consequences in some cases.
“I was elected to serve the people of the Weaver Vale and that’s what I will continue to do. This guilty verdict represents a good outcome for democracy.”
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