Oxford Tory’s ‘wild goose chase prank’ on disabled fellow student

A LEADING student Tory sent a disabled undergraduate on a wild goose chase around Oxford University as part of a ‘cruel and arrogant’ prank, it has been claimed.

The treasurer of the controversial Oxford University Conservative Association allegedly targeted his victim because ‘he thought it was hilarious to mess with the cripple’.

But the alleged bully, Chris Frost, dismissed the incident as a ‘harmless joke between friends’.

An anonymous email to university newspaper the Oxford Student claimed Mr Frost, who is studying history at Oriel College, texted the first-year student, who has a severe physical disability, from an Association

‘Blown out of all proportion’

dinner. The message suggested there was a spare seat that needed filling, and Mr Frost told the disabled student a friend of his was at the dinner in order to encourage him to turn up.

Mr Frost, 21, allegedly told the student to change into white tie before telling him to go to Somerville College, where the meal was being held.

But once he arrived at the college it is claimed Mr Frost concocted a plan to send him on a ‘wild goose chase’ in search of his friend.

Mr Frost – who was not named in the email – is said to have sent frequent text updates changing the location of the party where he said the friend would be each time.

It is understood the victim was sent to St Hugh’s College sports ground, then told to move to St Hilda’s, some 2.5 miles away from the previous location on the other side of Oxford.

Witnesses claim he was ‘quite distressed’ when he returned to the stu- dent union after eventually realising he was being tricked.

Other students who witnessed the prank are reported to have described it as ‘cruel and arrogant behaviour of the worst kind, and certainly an incident of bullying’.

Mr Frost has since described the incident as a ‘joke between friends’.

He said: ‘The student is a good friend of mine and I have never acted with malevolent intent towards him.

‘I fail to understand why this matter has been blown out of all proportion and, as far as I’m aware, he has never considered it to be anything other than a harmless joke between friends.’

The disabled student has confirmed an attempt had been made to send him on a ‘wild goose chase’ but had declined to make a complaint.

He added: ‘I was left in no way emotionally hurt by the incident.’

It had been claimed the Association president Robert Greig, 20, had attempted to cover up the prank, allegedly claiming the organisation was ‘not going to be walked over’.

He urged fellow student Zac Sprio, 21, who is thought to have links with one of the student newspapers, to make ‘an agreement that you’re not going to … write something that damages the Association or makes grand claims about this story’.

Mr Greig said: ‘I spoke with Mr Sprio to share my concerns that misinformation was being circulated about the Association and that we should challenge any false claims that are made.’

It is not the first time that the Conservative group has been caught up in controversy. Almost two years ago members of the Association were alleged to have been witnessed singing a Nazi-themed song.

Complaints have also been made that poorer OUCA members had been ridiculed by former public schoolboys, leading to suggestions of class discrimination.