Man Denies Stalking and Harassing Minister Jess Phillips in Court Appearance
A 47-year-old man has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking and harassing Jess Phillips, the minister in charge of tackling violence against women and girls. Lee Owens entered his plea at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Tuesday, facing allegations related to an excessive volume of aggressive and threatening emails sent to the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley.
Details of the Alleged Offences
The indictment, read to the court, stated that between July 10 and July 14 of last year, Owens sent what was described as "an excessive volume of aggressive and threatening and obsessive emails" to Phillips. According to the prosecution, these communications caused the minister serious alarm or distress, resulting in a substantial adverse effect on her day-to-day activities.
Anton Doyle, prosecuting, revealed that Owens sent a total of 94 emails to Phillips, including content related to the grooming gang scandal. Doyle told the court that the alleged offences had prevented Phillips from carrying out her ministerial duties and caused significant difficulties in her family life.
Previous Charges and Court Proceedings
This is not the first time Owens has faced charges related to harassing Phillips. He had previously denied a separate charge of harassment for sending 31 emails to the minister between January 22 and January 25 of last year. Owens, who is from Gloucester, has elected to have his case heard at Gloucester Crown Court, with his next appearance scheduled for May 19.
The court released Owens on bail with the strict condition that he must not contact Phillips directly or indirectly while the legal proceedings continue.
Background on Jess Phillips
Jess Phillips, known for her extensive work promoting women's rights, first entered Parliament as an MP in the 2015 general election. Prior to her political career, she worked for Women's Aid in the West Midlands, where she developed services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, and exploitation.
In July 2024, Phillips was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Home Office, with specific responsibility for safeguarding and addressing violence against women and girls. Her current role makes these allegations particularly concerning given her position in government focused on protecting vulnerable individuals.
The case continues to develop as it moves to crown court, where a judge and potentially a jury will consider the evidence against Owens and determine whether the alleged stalking and harassment occurred as described in the indictment.
