Former cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson has made a failed bid to avoid an appearance in a criminal trial, after telling a judge he is too busy to attend court.
The Conservative politician says he was stalked by 44-year-old Simon Parry, culminating in an incident in June when the defendant allegedly impersonated a police officer in a bid to “arrest” him.
At Westminster magistrates court on Monday, an application was made for Williamson to give his evidence at the trial in October via videolink, instead of the MP entering the witness box in person.
In a Crown Prosecution Service application, it was said Williamson is a “high-profile MP” who “needs to attend the Houses of Parliament urgently, for instance for debates or if he is required to participate in a vote”.
But Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring refused the application, saying he would not excuse a witness from attending court simply because it was an “inconvenience”.
“There needs to be something specific, rather than saying ‘I’m very busy, please give me special treatment’”, said the judge.
Pointing out the application was made three months before the trial, when Parliamentary schedules have not been set, the judge added: “It rather suggests it’s about his convenience.”
Williamson will be the star witness in the trial, which has been set for October 18 at City of London magistrates court – a venue which is two miles from Parliament.
Parry, of no fixed address, is accused of “persistently following” the former education secretary on two occasions between May 24 and June 14 of this year.
Prosecutor Ola Oyedepo told an earlier hearing Parry allegedly produced a warrant card and told Williamson he would arrest him. “The MP had walked away from the House of Commons,” she said.
“He went down a number of roads. He noticed that the defendant was following him. He was trying to speak to him.
“(Williamson) was on the phone, he kept saying he was on the phone.
“The defendant told him he would arrest him and brought out a warrant card.
“The MP said ‘you are not a police officer’. This is when the defendant left.”
Parry, who was living in a protest encampment in Westminster, denies one count of stalking and one count of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
He is on bail until the trial.
Judge Goldspring said he would consider a renewed application for special measures for Williamson if it is made closer to the start of the trial, with evidence of the scheduling clashes he may face.
