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| Woman harassed by Claudia Webbe MP denies misleading court | Woman harassed by Claudia Webbe MP denies misleading court |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Claudia Webbe was found guilty last year of harassing Michelle Merritt | |
| A woman who was harassed by MP Claudia Webbe has denied misleading a court about the extent of her relationship with the politician's then partner. | A woman who was harassed by MP Claudia Webbe has denied misleading a court about the extent of her relationship with the politician's then partner. |
| The former Labour MP for Leicester East was given a suspended prison sentence for harassing Michelle Merritt. | The former Labour MP for Leicester East was given a suspended prison sentence for harassing Michelle Merritt. |
| Webbe, 57, is appealing against her conviction at Southwark Crown Court. | Webbe, 57, is appealing against her conviction at Southwark Crown Court. |
| The court heard Ms Merritt's phone had been examined by police since the trial, revealing sexual messages between her and Lester Thomas. | The court heard Ms Merritt's phone had been examined by police since the trial, revealing sexual messages between her and Lester Thomas. |
| 'No-one asked me' | 'No-one asked me' |
| Helen Law, representing Webbe, suggested a "glaring omission" in Ms Merritt's accounts in police witness statements and evidence in court was that "you and he were having sex". | Helen Law, representing Webbe, suggested a "glaring omission" in Ms Merritt's accounts in police witness statements and evidence in court was that "you and he were having sex". |
| Ms Merritt admitted having sex with Mr Thomas between March 2017 and July 2020. | Ms Merritt admitted having sex with Mr Thomas between March 2017 and July 2020. |
| "Mr Thomas and I talked about sex a lot," she said. "Other people would talk about fashion, we would talk about sex. | "Mr Thomas and I talked about sex a lot," she said. "Other people would talk about fashion, we would talk about sex. |
| "May I also add I'm single, not him, and I have done nothing illegal." | "May I also add I'm single, not him, and I have done nothing illegal." |
| Ms Law suggested Ms Merritt's evidence at Webbe's trial that Mr Thomas was just a "good friend" could have been "misleading to the court", and said: "Your phone download showed you had lied." | Ms Law suggested Ms Merritt's evidence at Webbe's trial that Mr Thomas was just a "good friend" could have been "misleading to the court", and said: "Your phone download showed you had lied." |
| Ms Merritt said: "I had not lied about having sex with Mr Thomas. No-one asked me in the magistrates' court. | Ms Merritt said: "I had not lied about having sex with Mr Thomas. No-one asked me in the magistrates' court. |
| "The basis of this whole thing is not based on my sex with Mr Thomas, it is based on being threatened and being harassed by Ms Webbe." | "The basis of this whole thing is not based on my sex with Mr Thomas, it is based on being threatened and being harassed by Ms Webbe." |
| Webbe said she split up with Lester Thomas in March 2022 | Webbe said she split up with Lester Thomas in March 2022 |
| The court heard Webbe made numerous calls to Ms Merritt in a campaign of harassment between September 2018 and April 2020. | The court heard Webbe made numerous calls to Ms Merritt in a campaign of harassment between September 2018 and April 2020. |
| The appeal hearing was told last week Ms Merritt called police and said "I have been threatened by a public figure with acid", but received 17 further phone calls lasting 14 seconds or less from Webbe after the MP was warned by police to stop contacting her. | The appeal hearing was told last week Ms Merritt called police and said "I have been threatened by a public figure with acid", but received 17 further phone calls lasting 14 seconds or less from Webbe after the MP was warned by police to stop contacting her. |
| Webbe told the hearing she split up with Mr Thomas in March this year after learning of the messages he had shared with Ms Merritt. | Webbe told the hearing she split up with Mr Thomas in March this year after learning of the messages he had shared with Ms Merritt. |
| "I had no idea about the relationship between Michelle Merritt and Lester Thomas, that this relationship had been going on throughout the entire time of my relationship with Lester," she said. | "I had no idea about the relationship between Michelle Merritt and Lester Thomas, that this relationship had been going on throughout the entire time of my relationship with Lester," she said. |
| "Therefore I was shocked and could not deal with that." | "Therefore I was shocked and could not deal with that." |
| Labour, which confirmed Webbe had been expelled from the party, has said it will push for a recall petition to force a by-election if she does not quit the Commons. | Labour, which confirmed Webbe had been expelled from the party, has said it will push for a recall petition to force a by-election if she does not quit the Commons. |
| The appeal continues. | The appeal continues. |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |