5G activist fined for rant

TWO councillors were branded “baby killers” by a man convinced Gateshead Council’s street lights cause cancer.

5G activist Mark Steele unleashed an “intimidating” tirade against the politicians as they canvassed voters. He believes Labour’s Catherine Donovan and Eileen McMaster had turned up to “goad” him into getting arrested.

He then called them “murderers”, a court heard, claiming it was his right to do so. But a judge ruled his outburst went too far as she handed him a criminal record.

It is the latest chapter in the saga between Gateshead Council and Steele. The 57-year-old believes the council is secretly trialling the technology in street lights.

Gateshead Magistrates’ Court heard claims it may have been linked to a child’s death. The council says the allegations are “entirely false” – accusing certain individuals of “frightening people”. Earlier this month, Steele successfully blocked a council ‘gagging order’ to prevent him from posting his beliefs online. However he was ordered not to harass council staff.

Now, he’s landed a criminal record over the April 30 drama outside his home in Percy Gardens, Dunston.

Despite it emerging that Labour officials had warned members “not to go near” Steele’s home, the two councillors were delivering letters when Steele charged towards them. Footage showed him repeatedly asking, “who do you work for?”

Coun McMaster recalled to the court: “I was frightened he would hit us, push us.”

She said Steele demanded the letters and to know what they were posting. Coun Donovan, the council’s deputy leader, told Steele: “It is none of your business”.

Steele told the court he confronted the pair after mistaking “unkept” Coun Donovan for a burglar after spotting her looking into his home. Despite Labour’s warning, the councillors had parked directly outside Steele’s house.

After confronting them, the court was told that the pair clashed for 30 minutes. One witness claimed both sides were raising their voices in the heated debate.

Steele criticised Coun Donovan’s “abrupt” attitude, adding: “It was not the sort of behaviour you would expect from a councillor in their public role.”

But the two councillors said his antics had left them in fear, and called the police.

Despite having three chances to leave, Coun Donovan said she entered a state of “fight or flight” when he confronted them.

“If someone is bullying you, even if you are scared, you sometimes just stand your ground,” she told the court.

One of those chances to leave the scene came when Steele returned home to look up the women online.

He also went off at one stage to get a neighbour to film the commotion.

And while Deputy District Judge Zoe Passfield cleared him of a more serious charge of using threatening words and behaviour with intent to cause fear, she convicted him of a lesser offence of using those words to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Steele was fined £180 and ordered to pay £300 costs.