3 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Pro-Palestine campaigner accused of bombarding Labour MP with anti-semitic emails
A Pro-Palestine campaigner has been accused of bombarding Labour MP Helen Hayes with anti-Semitic emails.
Austin Crick, 55, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Friday after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of the MP.
He is said to have sent the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood anti-Semitic emails concerning the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict.
The prosecution say the constituent had sent emails on February 21, March 4 and April 9 and May 20.
Hayes, 50, has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 2015 and Crick resides in East Dulwich.
Wearing a white shirt, dark red tie with a large Palestinian badge attached to his jacket, Crick indicated a not guilty plea and elected for a Crown Court trial.
Prosecutor Medinat Muhammed told the court: 'The defendant repeatedly sent anti-Semitic emails to his MP.
'They relate to the ongoing crisis between Israel and Gaza.'
The court heard that Hayes, who is the current Chair of House of Commons Education Select Committee, took the decision to report Crick to the police because his behaviour was effecting members of her team.
Crick was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 25 on condition he does not contact the MP or her senior parliamentary assistant Niall Adams.
