A man has been found guilty of harassing a Northumberland Conservative MP.
Martin Keir, 37, of Cranshaw Place in Cramlington, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, February 8 after being accused of harassing Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to one charge of harassment without violence at an earlier hearing in December.
Read more: Restoration plan agreed for Grade-II listed walled garden
The charge related to Keir's actions between May 10 and August 30, which prosecutors alleged amounted to harassment of Mr Levy, and which Keir knew, or ought to know, would amount to harassment of the MP.
Keir pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty by magistrates. He was handed a 150-hour community order and a restraining order relating to Mr Levy.
Mr Levy, 56, was elected to parliament for the first time in 2019 after the long-serving Ronnie Campbell stood down. He won by a majority of just 712 votes (1.7%) becoming the first Tory MP ever to represent Blyth Valley since it was formed in 1950.
Read next:
- 25-foot steel goat installed in remote Northumberland countryside
- North East households face up to £15 council tax rise to fund new frontline police officers
- Interim CEO departs Northumberland County Council ahead of permanent replacement's arrival
- Ponteland clubhouse plans hit with major setback after plan to remove trees refused
- Cramlimgton pub bouncer appears in court accused of assaulting customer