Man who admitted MP threat asks to change plea

A man who admitted threatening to kill his MP - saying he wanted to lock him in a building and set fire to it - has asked to change his guilty plea.

Benjamin Clarke, 31, appeared at Durham Crown Court where he was due to be sentenced for making threats to kill Bishop Auckland Labour MP Sam Rushworth, and a malicious communications offence, having admitted the charges last month.

His barrister, Chris Baker, said Clarke wanted to vacate those pleas and Recorder Mark Giuliani adjourned the case until 5 February at Teesside Crown Court.

Clarke, of Durham Street, Bishop Auckland, was bailed on condition he does not make any further comments on social media about Rushworth.

At a hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court last month, it was said Clarke contacted his MP in August on social media, writing: "I cannot wait for your next public appearance, you will be lucky to leave it in one piece."

Rushworth blocked Clarke from contacting him on the platform, preventing any further malicious communications offences, prosecutors said.

The court had also heard that in September, Clarke told two mental health practitioners he wanted to find the MP and smash his head off a pavement, to set fire to a building he was in and then "lock all the doors so I could hear him screaming".

The magistrates' court was told Mr Clarke added: "I'm going to do it, it's just a matter of time."

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