Political figure, ex-Labour councillor indicted for extortion in a 'honeytrap' scandal linked to Westminster
The Metropolitan Police Service has announced the charges against former Labour councillor, Oliver Steadman, in relation to a series of communication offences and blackmail. Mr. Steadman, who previously worked for the mental health charity Mind and was a member of Unite the union, has been charged with blackmail and five communication skills offences. He is also facing four further communication skills offence charges, in relation to four other victims, for allegedly sending unsolicited indecent images. The charges come after the so-called Westminster honeytrap scandal, where dozens of men in and around Westminster received explicit messages from two numbers. However, the context provided does not specify any connection between the Westminster honeytrap scandal and the charges against Oliver Steadman. The communication skills offences are in relation to messages that allegedly included unsolicited indecent images sent to a number of people within parliamentary political circles between October 2023 and April 2024 using Whatsapp. Some of those involved have reported feeling anxiety, worry, embarrassment, and a sinking heart when they found out the person they were communicating with was not real. Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, has announced the prosecution of Oliver Steadman for blackmail and five communication skills offenses. The blackmail charge is in relation to alleged unwarranted demands for the contact telephone numbers of up to 12 individuals. Mr. Steadman has been charged with a communication skills offence of improper use of a public electronic communications network, in relation to the same victim. No further information is provided about the arrests mentioned in the article's title or the rape incident mentioned in the second title. He was suspended from the Labour Party last year whilst the investigation takes place. The first hearing for Oliver Steadman will take place at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, 3 November 2025. It is important to note that all individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Despite the ongoing investigation, the name of the victim involved in the communication violations by Oliver Steadman or any information about a WhatsApp meeting in 2023 remains unavailable in the search results. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
