New trial date for claim of harassment

A new trial hearing has been set for a man accused of harassing a Sunderland MP via Twitter.

Leonard Lowther, of Roker Pier Cottages in Marine Walk, denies the charge of harassment without violence against Labour MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott.

The 65-yearold had been due to stand trial at Leeds Magistrates’ Court for a two-day trial starting on last October, then again on Tuesday, May 19.

However, it was moved into a holding court on August 18, due to the coronavirus crisis, when it was sent to South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to be heard on Wednesday, September 2.

District Judge Kathryn Meek was told Lowther has instructed a Leeds legal firm to represent him, having previously dismissed his team to represent himself.

The hearing agreed to schedule another pre-trial hearing on the afternoon of Friday, November 27, to ensure there are no issues to resolve.

The dates of Tuesday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 17, have been listed for the trial.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place between February 2018 and October 2018 in Sunderland, when it is said he used the social media platform to harass the MP. District Judge Meek told the defendant he was released on bail until his next hearing, which will take place at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

She has said the trial is scheduled to take place at that court, but may be moved to another in the Northumbria Police area in time.