The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
MP RELEASED EARLY FROM JAIL
Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was whisked away from prison after serving just 28 days of a three month jail term behind bars.
Ms Onasanya was released from high security HMP Bronzefield in Surrey on Tuesday morning, being driven away from the privately run jail in a Sodexo branded car.
She made no comment as she left, and used a hi-viz jacket to try and block the car window and hide from photographers.
A Sodexo spokesman refused to comment on why she was given a lift out of prison, other than to say release arrangements are made ‘on a case by case basis.’
It has been reported she has been given an ankle tag as part of her release conditions - but she is free to return to parliament - despite colleagues in the House of Commons calling for a change in the law to stop MPs remaining in their job if they are sent to prison.
Following her release, Cambridgeshire police and South Yorkshire police confirmed they were investigating reports of threatening communications to the MP.
Ms Onasanya’s communications officer Matt Turner said: “Many of these emails and letters have a disgusting racial element to them. This despicable and threatening behaviour is unacceptable and we welcome an investigation.”
A spokesman for South Yorkshire police said: “We are aware of reports of malicious communications sent to an individual in the Cambridgeshire area on January 19 2019 (the day Ms Onasanya was sentenced.) We are currently investigating and enquiries are continuing.”
A spokesman for Cam- bridgeshire police said South Yorkshire police were leading the investigation, but they were assisting.
Earlier in the week, The Attorney General confirmed he would be taking no further action following complaints from residents Ms Onasanya’s three month sentence was ‘too lenient.’
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said: “After careful consideration the Solicitor General has concluded that he could not refer this case to the Court of Appeal. A referral under the UndulyLenientSentencescheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so, such that the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence. The threshold is a high one, and the test was not met in this case.”
Ms Onasanya has appealed against her conviction. The Court of Appeal have confirmed the first hearing will take place on March 5 Ms Onasanya has not responded to Peterborough Telegraph requests for an interview, and did not answer her door when a reporter visited. A man who attempted to rob a Chinese takeaway at knifepoint before being chased away by staff has been jailed.
Daniel Walker, (29), went to the takeaway in Copeland, Bretton, at about 8.15pm on 13 January with his face partly covered.
Walker, of Manton, Bretton, approached the counter and produced a carrier bag with what the victim thought was a firearm inside. He pointed it at the member of staff and demanded cash be placed in another bag.
The victim slammed the counter down in an attempt to scare Walker, who backed off and walked out of the shop. When he was followed by the victim, Walker produced a knife from his coat and began swinging it towards the man.
The man started shouting for help and was joined by other members of staff who chased Walker away.
Walker, who was identified by officers from CCTV images, admitted attempted robbery, possession of an imitation Thu 7 Mar Tue 30 Apr Thu 2 May Wed 8 May Mon 13 May Tue 14 May Sat 25 May Mon 27 May Wed 29 May Thu 6 Jun Sat 8 Jun Sun 16 Jun Sat 22 Jun Fri 7 Jul Wed 31 Jul Emmerdale Studio Experience & Lunch Moreton-in-Marsh & Bourton-on-the-Water Springtime on the Suffolk Coast including Lunch St. Albans Market 9 to 5 The Musical at London’s Savoy Theatre - Evening Performance Buxton & Cream Tea aboard the Judith Mary Duxford Air Festival Black Country Museum Rip it Up at London’s Garrick Theatre, with Lewis Smith & Aston Merrygold £67.00 Chatsworth House & Gardens Tower of London Emmerdale Village Tour & Sunday Lunch Windsor & Afternoon Tea Cruise Hampton Court Flower Show firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and possession of a knife in public.
On Wednesday, at Peterborough Crown Court, he was sentenced to four years in prison for each of the first two charges, to be served concurrently, with the possession of a knife offence to lie on file.
Det Con Ashley Byrne said: “Walker strolled into this business intent on stealing from hard-working members of the community running a local business.
“He thought nothing of the terror his actions may have caused the staff, who initially believed they were being threatened with a firearm. As it turns out, he completely underestimated the staff members who were determined not to be intimidated, or let him get away with these cowardly actions.
“Officers quickly identified Walker from the CCTV and they were able to make a swift arrest.” Motown the Musical at Theatre MK from £52.00
‘Many of these emails and letters have a racial element to them’ Matt Turner
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