Mike Freer: Man sentenced for making threatening call to MP

A man has been given a community order for calling the north London office of MP Mike Freer and saying: "I'm coming for you".

Last month, James Phillips, 46, admitted making the call on 31 January.

The Finchley and Golders Green MP had announced on the same day that he would stand down at the next general election over unrelated safety fears.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Phillips was also sentenced for assaulting a police officer.

Phillips called the constituency office three times, the court heard.

Two calls were "heavy breathing" and a third involved the defendant telling Mr Freer's office: "Make sure to tell the police I'm coming for you," followed by an expletive and: "Not just Mike Freer but you as well."

The politician's personal assistant said Phillips had been calling and emailing with abusive messages for approximately three or four years, the court heard.

But Rita Patel, defending, said her client did not accept he had made communications of a threatening nature previously.

Phillips's phone call to Mr Freer's office was recorded and workers recognised the number as that of the defendant, the court heard previously.

After he was arrested and taken into custody, Phillips attempted to punch a police officer who was trying to bring him out of a cell for an interview.

District Judge Neeta Minhas made a 14-month community order, with 25 rehabilitation activity days, and imposed a restraining order banning Phillips from contacting Mr Freer directly or indirectly for two years.

Mr Freer said his decision to stand down at the next general election had followed a series of death threats and an arson attack on his Golders Green office.

The defendant will also have to pay the police officer he tried to punch £200 in compensation.

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