Individual taken into custody due to accusations of extortion linked to the Westminster 'honeytrap' incident scandal
In a series of events that have come to be known as the 'Westminster honeytrap scandal,' a former Labour councillor, Oliver Steadman, has been charged with blackmail and improper use of a public electronic communications network. The 28-year-old Steadman, who served as a councillor in Islington, north London, was remanded in custody on Wednesday and is due to make a first appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Nov. 3.
The charges against Steadman come after a 17-month police investigation into unsolicited messages sent to prominent figures in Westminster. The investigation was initiated by the Metropolitan Police in April 2024 following a report by POLITICO about unsolicited WhatsApp messages sent to several men in Westminster, including MPs.
Steadman has been charged with one count of blackmail and five counts of improper use of a public electronic communications network. The charge of blackmail against him relates to alleged unwarranted demands for the contact telephone numbers of up to 12 individuals within Westminster political circles. The messages, which were personalized and sometimes included explicit photos, were sent by users calling themselves either 'Abi' or 'Charlie.'
Meanwhile, a senior Conservative MP, William Wragg, resigned the Tory whip after admitting he leaked colleagues' personal phone numbers to a person he met on the dating app Grindr. The leaking of phone numbers occurred after this person had compromising information on Wragg.
Steadman's Labour membership is currently suspended pending an internal investigation. However, a party official stated that the probe cannot take place while criminal proceedings are ongoing. It is important to note that there is no publicly available detailed information listing the exact 12 individuals to whom Steadman allegedly sent threats and unjustified demands for phone numbers via WhatsApp between October 2023 and April 2024 within Westminster political circles.
The investigation into the 'Westminster honeytrap scandal' continues to be carried out by the Metropolitan Police. Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, is also investigating alleged unsolicited indecent images sent to a number of people within parliamentary political circles between October 2023 and April 2024 using WhatsApp.
Steadman resigned following his arrest in June 2024. He has not yet entered a formal plea. The public awaits the court proceedings with interest, as this case sheds light on the darker side of political circles and the potential misuse of technology for personal gain.
