Political

Conservative Watford candidate arrested

Liberal Democrats in Watford have been on the receiving end of a harassment campaign since 2005 (indeed, it’s over a year since I blogged about a £5,000 reward being offered by the police).

Yesterday events took a dramatic turn as the Watford Observer reports:

Ian Oakley, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Watford [and councillor in Hillingdon], has been arrested in connection with a hate campaign directed at the town’s local Liberal Democrat group…

A police statement, released today (Saturday) said: “We can confirm a 31-year-old man from West Drayton was arrested on Friday, yesterday, in connection with a series of criminal damage and harassment offences, the victims of which were local members of a national political party.

“He has been given police bail pending further enquiries.”

The police investigation, nicknamed Operation Tuition, started in 2005 after several Lib Dem supporters received poison pen letters aimed at Watford councillors…

The case is considered so serious Hertfordshire Constabulary’s major crime task force has been investigating the matter.

As well as poison pen letters, the police operations has encompassed criminal damage to property. It is known car tyres have been slashed and bodywork damaged.

Speaking today, Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “We are absolutely delighted that after three years of harassment and distress somebody has finally been arrested.

“We are pleased the police have persevered with this and now it is up to the CPS to obviously carry it forward.

“We don’t want to say anything else that could jeopardise any court case but we are delighted they are proceeding with the investigation.”

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