Man in court over harassment of St Helens councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron

Andrew Watkinson, of Regent Street Earlestown, appeared before South Sefton Magistrates’ court in Bootle today, Tuesday.

Watkinson, 53, had been found guilty of harassment of St Helens Council's deputy leader and Newton-le-Willows East ward councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, following a trial at the court last month.

He was convicted of, between September 11 and September 29 last year, pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to harassment by sending unwanted emails and direct messages to Cllr Gomez-Aspron.

'I will hound you for the rest of your sorry existence'

At the sentencing hearing district judge Paul Healey explained that there had been a “background” to the offending, dating back to a few months previously to when the abusive messages were sent.

“The background to this particular offence dates back” and that “a few months prior” there had been a “verbal" complaint.

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Judge Healey said: “You (Watkinson) were arrested, the police contacted, your devices were seized. You got frustrated with that, you were subject to bail conditions.

“When you were removed from the bail conditions, that is when this course of conduct arose.

“You have a particular interest in regeneration projects where you live. You believe that the victim has a lead role in that.”

The judge said that there was “initial comment about regeneration” by Watkinson and Cllr Gomez-Aspron had “replied to that, it was quite abrupt” and “he didn’t want any further correspondence from you.

“Thereafter you sent further messages that were abusive, some of them had kisses attached to them.”

The court heard that Watkinson became unable to work a couple of years ago and had developed an interest in local politics.

Prosecuting, Tom Quirke, outlined the circumstances of Watkinson’s offending last September, which included emails he sent to Cllr Gomez-Aspron.

Among these, Watkinson once said: “’I would like to see you at the Riddling Rack’”, while on another occasion he said: “’I will hound you for the rest of your sorry existence’”.

The defendant’s offending also included Facebook posts.

The case was heard at South Sefton Magistrates' Court (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Quirke read out a victim impact statement from Cllr Gomez-Aspron to the court in which he said he had “not experienced this behaviour before”.

He added: “I tried to give the benefit of the doubt to Watkinson” and that he “continued this type of behaviour”.

Cllr Gomez-Aspron said the defendant “continued to abuse me” and “lie about me”.

The Crown also made an application for a two-year restraining order for Watkinson not to contact Cllr Gomez-Aspron, to enter his street of residence, to post about him on social media and not to attend St Helens town hall.

Messages were 'not threatening'

Defending Watkinson, Joseph Bleasdale said that Watkinson had “worked all his life” until two years ago and said the “combination of not working anymore” and during the pandemic “he took an interest in politics in the local area”.

He said his client’s last previous conviction was “over a decade ago for drink driving” and the court heard that Watkinson had suffered a brain injury.

Mr Bleasdale added that he disagreed that the messages Watkinson sent were “threatening”, saying “they seemed to be more abusive” and “not in any way threats of violence or anything of that nature.”

He added: “The email sent (by Watkinson) questioning a consultation process is very articulate” and that Cllr Gomez-Aspron had replied: “’I’m not going to respond to your inane language’.

“I can understand why that got the defendant’s back up.”

Mr Bleasdale argued that a restraining order preventing Watkinson from attending the town hall or from posting about the councillor on social media would not be “proportionate”.

Sentence and restraining order passed

Watkinson was sentenced to a community order for 12 months, and must attend the probation service for 20 days and pay a fine and costs.

Passing sentence, judge Healey said Watkinson “went well beyond reasonable political discourse into personal abuse and harassment.”

The judge did not pass an unpaid work requirement.

The judge passed the restraining order banning Watkinson from contacting Cllr Gomez-Aspron or entering his street of residence.

However, he refused to prohibit Watkinson from attending the town hall as long as he does not contact the victim.

The judge refused to prohibit Watkinson from attending St Helens town hall (Image: Stock)

Judge Healey did however ban Watkinson from posting about the victim on social media.

He said: “I’ve got to balance (Watkinson’) rights with the right of the victim” and said the offending arose from “comments about the victim on social media. I think, on balance, I will make the restraining order.”