Man Charged with Stalking Minister Jess Phillips
Lee Owens, aged 47, appeared at Cheltenham magistrates court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking and harassing Jess Phillips, the minister responsible for addressing violence against women and girls.
The court was informed that between 10 July and 14 July of the previous year, Owens allegedly sent an "excessive volume of aggressive and threatening and obsessive emails" to Phillips, who serves as the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley.
Details of the Allegations
The indictment stated that Phillips experienced serious alarm or distress due to these communications, which had a "substantial adverse" effect on her daily activities.
Prosecutor Anton Doyle revealed that Owens sent a total of 94 emails to Phillips, some of which included references to the grooming gang scandal. Doyle further explained that the alleged offenses hindered Phillips from fulfilling her ministerial responsibilities and caused difficulties in her family life.
Previous Charges and Court Proceedings
Owens, who resides in Gloucester, had earlier denied a harassment charge related to sending 31 emails to Phillips between 22 January and 25 January of the previous year.
He has chosen to have his case heard at Gloucester crown court, with his next appearance scheduled for 19 May. Owens was granted bail under the condition that he must not contact Phillips either directly or indirectly.
About Jess Phillips
Jess Phillips, known for her advocacy on women's rights, was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2015 general election. Prior to her parliamentary career, she worked with Women’s Aid in the West Midlands, focusing on developing services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, and exploitation.
In July 2024, Phillips was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Home Office, with responsibilities including safeguarding and combating violence against women and girls.
