Charles Gilbert Haworth, Oakham Town Councillor, Former Deputy Oakham Mayor
Cllr Charles Haworth, Oakham Town Councillor, Homophobic Harasser calls me a liar,
Homophobic Councillors Reprimanded Cllr Adam Lowe for not offering more support
than reminding Cllr Charles Haworth he was being recorded.
At the end of May 2014 I asked Cllr Charles Haworth questions about his disgusting
conduct towards me, Oakham Mayor Councillor Jayne Woodcock friend of Haworth
and his partners in crime finds my questioning offensive. Why?
After the meeting I ask Councillor Haworth if he was going to apologise for his disgraceful
conduct towards members of our community, he responded calling me "childish"
Since I filmed and asked Cllr Haworth he has not attended any meetings. Although he
did spend a considerable amount of public money from the promotion of Oakham Budget
for his dreadful party in the park.
Cllr Haworth leaving Oakham Police Station looking "stressed
and harassed"
Council chief talks about impact of blogger in court as some charges are dropped
27 September 2013
A council chief has spoken in court about the impact a prolific blogger has had on her work and home life.
Chief executive of Rutland County Council, Helen Briggs, was giving evidence at Leicester Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday) against Martin Brookes, who is charged with harassing and stalking her.
Brookes is also charged with stalking and harassing Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth however, two other charges of harassing and stalking police officer Christopher Wharton were dismissed yesterday at the request of prosecutor John Western.
During the third day of the trial, Mrs Briggs was cross-examined by Brookes’ defence solicitor David Swingler.
He suggested that many of Brookes’ blog posts, which include accusations of “bullying”, having a “special relationship” with the police and misusing public money for her own benefit, were reasonably held opinions.
He argued that under article 10 of the Human Rights Act, Brookes was exercising his freedom of expression.
Mr Swingler said: “It doesn’t mean what he is saying is right, but it is his right to say it.”
The defence questioned why Mrs Briggs is only taking action against Brookes and not other people who have questioned her conduct, including Private Eye magazine which published an article about “rotten” Rutland.
Mrs Briggs said: “This has been going on for years. I ignored it initially because I thought that was a sensible thing to do. It’s not about anything in the last six months - I have to take into account the cumulative impact of his behaviour.
“The Private Eye article made very uncomfortable reading. I wouldn’t agree it was acceptable but it was not sustained. It was an isolated incident.”
Mrs Briggs added: “He (Brookes) has a right to express his opinion but I’m here because of the cumulative impact of his statements.
“There are acceptable degrees of criticism and there are subject areas that are uncomfortable for my family and colleagues.
“I have never before had to explain to my family and friends why things are appearing on blogs about the way I conduct my job.”
Mrs Briggs admitted she had never directly asked Brookes to remove his blog posts or correct their inaccuracies.
Extracts were read out from Brookes’ blog, one which said she used council money to “fund her hobby” of cycling by making a contribution to the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic.
In response, Mrs Briggs said: “Mr Brookes always jumps to the conclusion that whatever I do, whether that be cycling or having contact details for the police, that my motive is always inappropriate or worse.”
Earlier in the day the court heard evidence from Det Sgt David McDonald, who had interviewed Mrs Briggs about Brookes’ behaviour.
He claimed the main issue of the case is the way Brookes publishes his comments rather than the actual content of his blogs and e-mails.
He said: “The method in which he deliver his criticisms is a mechanical method of attacking a person’s character.
“I see the issue is the robust way he used modern communications to get out his message.”
The trial had previously heard that Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth had set up an anonymous blog called The Laughing Stocks which he had used to attack Brookes.
When Det Sgt McDonald was asked why Mr Howarth had not been charged for the content of his blog, he said: “Both (blogs) were as bad as each other but I didn’t believe we would get a prosecution if it was brought to court.”
The defence also questioned evidence provided by Mr Howarth earlier in the week, who claimed he had received “dozens” of phone calls and messages from Brookes and seen him loitering outside his home.
Mr Swingler asked for the charges relating to Mr Howarth’s “weak, vague and inconsistent” evidence to be dismissed as he believed there was no case to answer.
But district judge John Temperley ruled that the credibility of the evidence was not questionable enough to drop the charges.
The case will resume at Loughborough Magistrates Court on October 8.
Police officer closed personal Twitter account because of ex-town councillor, court told
24 September 2013
A rather foolish officer, At the time, the way the corrupt police were dealing with my complaints
or not as was the case, I would have published any officers Tweets, if they were of the same critical nature. This was his fib in court under oath: “I made a couple of work-related tweets and Mr Brookes used that information and blogged about me, making it impossible to keep it open.” A senior detective gave evidence to which pointed out the Sgt Wharton was asked by his senior officers to close his account, he also pointed out in his statement how Sgt Wharton had agreed he it was a
mistake for him to have publicly tweeted attacks against the police force and home secretary.
I don't agree with that if as he said things were bad for Leicestershire Police Officers at the time
then he should be able to tweet it to the world. What he should not do is try to stitch some one like
me up when they raise those tweets with the force as a possible reason for their continual failings.
Rutland Times Report the day before Sgt Wharton's case was thrown out of court:
A police officer had to close his personal Twitter account after a former Oakham town councillor used information from the site on his personal blog, a court heard.
Sgt Christopher Wharton told district judge John Temperley at Leicester Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday) that a number of his tweets from his personal account were copied into Martin Brookes’ blog and distributed to a wider audience.
Brookes, 47, of Willow Crescent, Oakham, denies three charges of harassment and three charges of stalking Sgt Wharton, Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth and Rutland County Council chief executive Helen Briggs.
Giving evidence this morning, Sgt Wharton told the court: “I made a couple of work-related tweets and Mr Brookes used that information and blogged about me, making it impossible to keep it open.”
The court heard that a photograph on Sgt Wharton’s Twitter account taken on a family day out was also copied from the account and sent to police colleagues, the Police Professional Standards department and Rutland MP Alan Duncan by Brookes, a former Oakham town councilor. Other tweets about work-related matters were sent to the same people.
Defending solicitor David Swingler said as some of the tweets related to police matters they were not personal and the lines between professional and personal had been blurred.
The trial continues.
Cllr Haworth own words prove he is unfit for public office
Cllr Charles Haworth, Oakham Town Councillor, Homophobic Harasser calls me a liar,
Homophobic Councillors Reprimanded Cllr Adam Lowe for not offering more support
than reminding Cllr Charles Haworth he was being recorded.
At the end of May 2014 I asked Cllr Charles Haworth questions about his disgusting
conduct towards me, Oakham Mayor Councillor Jayne Woodcock friend of Haworth
and his partners in crime finds my questioning offensive. Why?
After the meeting I ask Councillor Haworth if he was going to apologise for his disgraceful
conduct towards members of our community, he responded calling me "childish"
Since I filmed and asked Cllr Haworth he has not attended any meetings. Although he
did spend a considerable amount of public money from the promotion of Oakham Budget
for his dreadful party in the park.
Cllr Haworth leaving Oakham Police Station looking "stressed
and harassed"
Council chief talks about impact of blogger in court as some charges are dropped
27 September 2013
A council chief has spoken in court about the impact a prolific blogger has had on her work and home life.
Chief executive of Rutland County Council, Helen Briggs, was giving evidence at Leicester Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday) against Martin Brookes, who is charged with harassing and stalking her.
Brookes is also charged with stalking and harassing Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth however, two other charges of harassing and stalking police officer Christopher Wharton were dismissed yesterday at the request of prosecutor John Western.
During the third day of the trial, Mrs Briggs was cross-examined by Brookes’ defence solicitor David Swingler.
He suggested that many of Brookes’ blog posts, which include accusations of “bullying”, having a “special relationship” with the police and misusing public money for her own benefit, were reasonably held opinions.
He argued that under article 10 of the Human Rights Act, Brookes was exercising his freedom of expression.
Mr Swingler said: “It doesn’t mean what he is saying is right, but it is his right to say it.”
The defence questioned why Mrs Briggs is only taking action against Brookes and not other people who have questioned her conduct, including Private Eye magazine which published an article about “rotten” Rutland.
Mrs Briggs said: “This has been going on for years. I ignored it initially because I thought that was a sensible thing to do. It’s not about anything in the last six months - I have to take into account the cumulative impact of his behaviour.
“The Private Eye article made very uncomfortable reading. I wouldn’t agree it was acceptable but it was not sustained. It was an isolated incident.”
Mrs Briggs added: “He (Brookes) has a right to express his opinion but I’m here because of the cumulative impact of his statements.
“There are acceptable degrees of criticism and there are subject areas that are uncomfortable for my family and colleagues.
“I have never before had to explain to my family and friends why things are appearing on blogs about the way I conduct my job.”
Mrs Briggs admitted she had never directly asked Brookes to remove his blog posts or correct their inaccuracies.
Extracts were read out from Brookes’ blog, one which said she used council money to “fund her hobby” of cycling by making a contribution to the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic.
In response, Mrs Briggs said: “Mr Brookes always jumps to the conclusion that whatever I do, whether that be cycling or having contact details for the police, that my motive is always inappropriate or worse.”
Earlier in the day the court heard evidence from Det Sgt David McDonald, who had interviewed Mrs Briggs about Brookes’ behaviour.
He claimed the main issue of the case is the way Brookes publishes his comments rather than the actual content of his blogs and e-mails.
He said: “The method in which he deliver his criticisms is a mechanical method of attacking a person’s character.
“I see the issue is the robust way he used modern communications to get out his message.”
The trial had previously heard that Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth had set up an anonymous blog called The Laughing Stocks which he had used to attack Brookes.
When Det Sgt McDonald was asked why Mr Howarth had not been charged for the content of his blog, he said: “Both (blogs) were as bad as each other but I didn’t believe we would get a prosecution if it was brought to court.”
The defence also questioned evidence provided by Mr Howarth earlier in the week, who claimed he had received “dozens” of phone calls and messages from Brookes and seen him loitering outside his home.
Mr Swingler asked for the charges relating to Mr Howarth’s “weak, vague and inconsistent” evidence to be dismissed as he believed there was no case to answer.
But district judge John Temperley ruled that the credibility of the evidence was not questionable enough to drop the charges.
The case will resume at Loughborough Magistrates Court on October 8.
Police officer closed personal Twitter account because of ex-town councillor, court told
24 September 2013
A rather foolish officer, At the time, the way the corrupt police were dealing with my complaints
or not as was the case, I would have published any officers Tweets, if they were of the same critical nature. This was his fib in court under oath: “I made a couple of work-related tweets and Mr Brookes used that information and blogged about me, making it impossible to keep it open.” A senior detective gave evidence to which pointed out the Sgt Wharton was asked by his senior officers to close his account, he also pointed out in his statement how Sgt Wharton had agreed he it was a
mistake for him to have publicly tweeted attacks against the police force and home secretary.
I don't agree with that if as he said things were bad for Leicestershire Police Officers at the time
then he should be able to tweet it to the world. What he should not do is try to stitch some one like
me up when they raise those tweets with the force as a possible reason for their continual failings.
Rutland Times Report the day before Sgt Wharton's case was thrown out of court:
A police officer had to close his personal Twitter account after a former Oakham town councillor used information from the site on his personal blog, a court heard.
Sgt Christopher Wharton told district judge John Temperley at Leicester Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday) that a number of his tweets from his personal account were copied into Martin Brookes’ blog and distributed to a wider audience.
Brookes, 47, of Willow Crescent, Oakham, denies three charges of harassment and three charges of stalking Sgt Wharton, Oakham town councillor Charles Howarth and Rutland County Council chief executive Helen Briggs.
Giving evidence this morning, Sgt Wharton told the court: “I made a couple of work-related tweets and Mr Brookes used that information and blogged about me, making it impossible to keep it open.”
The court heard that a photograph on Sgt Wharton’s Twitter account taken on a family day out was also copied from the account and sent to police colleagues, the Police Professional Standards department and Rutland MP Alan Duncan by Brookes, a former Oakham town councilor. Other tweets about work-related matters were sent to the same people.
Defending solicitor David Swingler said as some of the tweets related to police matters they were not personal and the lines between professional and personal had been blurred.
The trial continues.
Cllr Haworth own words prove he is unfit for public office
