MP speaks out on fear after man jailed for death threat:
MP ON TERRIFYING ORDEAL AS MAN JAILED
A MAN who posed as a woman to send emails in which he threatened to kill a North Wales MP.
David William Lowe set up a Gmail account in the name of Anne Davies and sent abusive messages to Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville-Roberts.
The court heard that the emails, which came during the push for a second Brexit referendum, mentioned MP Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death by a right-wing extremist in 2016.
Mrs Saville Roberts said she was left terrified for her own safety and for that of her family, and even considered not standing for re-election.
Yesterday, the 66-yearold, of Y Felinheli, was jailed for 18 weeks for sending a communication conveying threats.
Jailing him, District Judge Gwyn Jones said the offence was so serious that Lowe had to go to prison for it.
The judge said setting up the email account in the name of Anne Davies showed “forethought and planning”.
Mrs Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, gave a victim statement that outlined the impact Lowe’s crimes had had on her.
She said: “I had for a time felt that I was in potential danger wherever I was – at work out in the constituency, in my constituency office, even in my family home. “David Lowe referred to the murder of MP Jo Cox, who was shot to death in her constituency just before the EU Referendum in 2016. I knew Jo, as we both started in the Westminster Parliament in 2015
“Her death was a shock to all MPs, and especially to the female MPs who could not believe that such a scary thing could have happened in Britain.
“He also talked about threatening to kill me in my home. I had no place to feel safe. Even at home, I was thinking about these threats. When I was in London, I was worried about my husband and daughters, who were sometimes alone at home.
“We have had to put in place stricter security measures to maintain our confidence in our home. I was also concerned about staff in the constituency office.
“The message made me think more than twice whether I should stand again as a Member of Parliament, or whether I was putting my family, staff and myself in unnecessary danger.
“I have spoken to many other MPs and former MPs, and it is true to say that in 2019 some have not stood due to the level of threats to them via email and on social media.
“These are not jokes or jokes, but carefully chosen words to express hatred. As the person who had to open and read the message in the middle of my work emails, I want to know that the sender understands and regrets the impact that his malicious act has.
“There needs to be a strong message that it is totally unacceptable to send out hateful communications with the intention of frightening people so that they shy away from participating in democracy.”
Deborah Davies, defending, asked the judge to give Lowe credit for his guilty plea and noted he had no previous convictions.
The judge ordered Lowe’s laptop be forfeited and destroyed and made a Restraining Order preventing him from contacting the MP by any means for five years.