Police probe Ukip candidate’s rape taunt
A UKIP candidate in the European elections is under police investigation after posting a video suggesting he ‘might’ rape Labour MP Jess Phillips.
Carl Benjamin had previously triggered fury for a social media message in which he said he ‘wouldn’t even rape’ her.
Mr Benjamin released the video on YouTube, where he has a large following under the name Sargon of Akkad.
After listing spoof Ukip policies, including invading Spain and restoring the British Empire, he said: ‘There’s been an awful lot of talk about whether I would or wouldn’t rape Jess Phillips. I’ve been in a lot of trouble for my hardline stance of not even raping her. I suppose with enough pressure I might cave. But let’s be honest, nobody’s got that much beer.’
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said they had received a report of a malicious communication, adding: ‘Officers have spoken to Ms Phillips and the comments are being investigated.’
Ms Phillips told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire that she broke down in tears in Birmingham city centre after being told of the comments. The MP, a frequent target of online trolls, said: ‘It dawned on me that, for four years essentially, this man had made a career out of harassing me.’
Ms Phillips said it was ‘one thing when he was just some idiot off the internet’ but now ‘it’s a different thing... that he will potentially go to a parliament himself as an elected representative’.
Ukip leader Gerard Batten said the party had no knowledge of the police investigation, but added: ‘I condemn all jokes about rape – they are not funny and never appropriate and I have told Carl to keep to the serious political issues in this campaign.’