Ex-councillor admits sending abuse to former MP

2 hours ago

News image — It was the third time Peter Little - pictured when he served as a councillor - appeared in court for sending abusive messages

Allerdale Borough Council Peter Little wears a blue paisley shirt and stands for a portrait photo in front of a grey screen. He has brown hair which is receding and blue eyes. — It was the third time Peter Little - pictured when he served as a councillor - appeared in court for sending abusive messages

An ex-councillor has appeared in court again after admitting to sending abusive messages to a former MP.

Peter Little, 41, sent two Facebook messages to Baroness Hayman in March which were of a "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character", Carlisle magistrates heard.

Little was previously jailed for 18 weeks in 2021 after sending a "grossly offensive" and threatening email to the then chief executive of Allerdale Borough Council, Andrew Seekings, in which he threatened him and Tory MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson.

Little, of Grasmere Terrace, Maryport, was banned from contacting both the House of Commons and the House of Lords as he awaits sentence on 16 March.

Baroness Hayman was the first female to represent a Cumbria constituency and served as Labour MP for Workington from 2015 to 2019.

Little was due to be sentenced at Carlisle Magistrates' Court earlier but district judge Philip Holden heard it had not been possible for a probation officer to prepare a pre-sentence report.

He had attended an interview, the court heard, but then left partway through after only 10 minutes.

The judge told him: "If I were to give you that opportunity, would you sit down with a probation officer and not leave after 10 minutes?"

Little agreed but also said: "I just don't like disclosing personal information."

The sentencing hearing was adjourned, with Little granted bail with a number of conditions.

He was banned from contacting both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, he must not post anything on social media which is deemed as inciting political violence and must not contact Baroness Hayman in any way.

Earlier in 2021, Little - who served as an independent on the former Allerdale Borough Council - had been given a suspended sentence after he admitted two other charges, which included verbally abusing and threatening his neighbours and subjected female police officers to homophobic abuse.

Allerdale Borough Council was abolished in 2023 and its services and responsibilities were transferred to Cumberland Council.

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