LOCAL MP Mike Amesbury admits to being “a bit more anxious” after a 56-year-old man was convicted of stalking him following a trial at Warrington magistrates court on Friday.
Stephen Cowell, was found guilty of stalking the MP for Weaver Vale, Cheshire, on four occasions between June and August 2022.
Cowell had denied stalking the politician but will be sentenced for the offences on August 18 following his conviction.
After the hearing 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.”
During the trial the court heard how Cowell’s behaviour became increasingly odd and intimidating, to the point the MP felt compelled to call the police.
On June 9 last year, Cowell was seen ‘loitering’ around the politician’s office, staring through the glass, shortly after he asked security staff in the nearby Runcorn Shopping City about guards and cameras.
Mr Amesbury left the office around 4.30pm and walked to his car at which point he was approached by Cowell who asked him how he was going to solve the housing crisis and who persisted in his questioning and followed the MP to his vehicle.
The politician got into his car but Cowell put his hand on the door to prevent Mr Amesbury from closing it before the MP, who was then shadow minister for housing and planning, gave him his business card and told him to contact him through normal channels.
But a week later, on June 16, Mr Amesbury’s constituency staff spotted Cowell lingering near the office again while security guards at Runcorn Shopping City saw him in the same area over a month later on July 27.
On August 3 last year, Cowell was seen in Frodsham in the area where Mr Amesbury lives, ‘waiting’ for the MP at a local Costa Coffee.
The MP was again confronted on the way to his car from the coffee shop, with Cowell ‘leaning into’ the vehicle as Mr Amesbury tried to leave.
He said the conversation also centred around housing and that Cowell ‘showed racist thinking’, according to the CPS.
The MP reported him to the police and Cowell was arrested later that day.
After he was cautioned, Cowell is said to have told police: “There will be CCTV of it. He threatened me, I didn’t threaten him.”
He said he wanted to talk to his MP about housing and denied ‘any sinister intent’ towards Mr Amesbury, insisting he would “rather not see him ever again”.