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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Tristan Kirk

Keir Starmer and Priti Patel ‘received offensive and threatening emails’ - court

A man has been charged with sending threatening and abusive messages to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Mark Tew, 60, targeted the senior politicians repeatedly with emails sent between January and November 2021, it is said.

He faces six offences under the Malicious Communications Act, and has been sent to stand trial at Southwark crown court.

According to the charges, Sir Keir was sent an email containing a threat and another which was “indecent or grossly offensive” in March 2021.

Mark Tew is accused of sending threatening and offensive messages to Sir Keir Starmer (ES)

It is said he received three further emails on November 19, 2021, including another containing an alleged threat.

Ms Patel was Home Secretary in Boris Johnson’s government at the time she allegedly received an indecent or grossly offensive email from Tew.

Priti Patel (PA Wire)

Tew first appeared in court last month and was expected to enter pleas at a crown court hearing on Thursday.

However the case was adjourned until later this month to allow Tew to secure legal representation.

Judge Martin Griffith released Tew, from Camden, on bail until the next hearing on February 17, with conditions he lives at home and does not attempt to contact any Members of Parliament.

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