Angela Rayner details impact of death threats against her and her son

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner was left “distressed and panicked” after receiving malicious voicemails threatening to kill her and her son, a court heard.

Elizabeth Harker, 63, of Luton, Bedfordshire, left four voicemail messages for Ms Rayner via her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency office on September 5, 2025.

This was the day Ms Rayner resigned from the cabinet after it was revealed she had not paid enough stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

In a victim impact statement read at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday, Ms Rayner said she still could not bring herself to listen to the recording.

But he said he was told by the office manager that “the threats were made with malicious intent.”

Ms Rayner said she found the behavior “unacceptable” and was “distressed and alarmed” by the threats.

Ms Rayner added that this “caused great stress and anxiety to everyone close to me”, including her sons under 18 and her staff.

Harker previously pleaded guilty to sending a communication that was “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or threatening nature.”

Prosecutor Olivia Grist said the voicemails called Ms Rayner a “dirty whore” and a “slut”.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen to you,” said another.

Harker also previously pleaded guilty to sending a communication containing an indecent or offensive message.

The indictment states that he sent a letter “containing an inappropriate or grossly offensive message with the intention of causing distress.”

On November 2, Ring was caught by the security doorbell sending the offensive letter to Dorris Fortune’s home in Luton.

Ms Grist said Harker left a handwritten note containing “abusive language” at the door before fleeing.

It included insults and comments such as “paedo” and “murdered fraud.”

In a victim impact statement, Ms Fortune said: “Whoever receives this will be very distressed. [a] “A very offensive note.”

She said the note “was in the back of my mind and made me feel anxious, even when I was home with my dog.”

Harker’s defense lawyer Lewis Green told the court: “He has a long and established history of misusing alcohol over the last 30 years.

“He told me he could manage it.

“He told me he was still drinking, although not as much as before.”

Harker was released on conditional bail and ordered to undergo an alcohol treatment evaluation before being sentenced on March 24.

He was also told that restraining orders were recommended by the prosecution as part of the sentencing hearing.

Ms. Rayner did not attend Monday’s hearing.