Ex-Labour councillor charged in Westminster ‘honeytrap’ case

A former member of the Assembly was accused of blackmail and communication crimes in connection with the Westminster “Honeytrap” scandal.

Blackmail accusation is related to the claim of unfair requests for phone numbers up to 12 people.

28 -year -old Oliver Steadman is also accused of communication crimes regarding the sending of unwanted immoral images.

Last year, a number of men working in politics last year, “Charlie” or “brother” from people who call unwanted, flirtatious WhatsApp messages announced. In some cases, open images were changed.

At that time, Conservative Deputy William Wragg said that he gave a man’s phone numbers to a man he met in a friendship application and resigned from the whip.

Mr. Steadman was suspended as a member of the worker after being informed of his arrest in June 2024.

The following month he resigned as a council member in Islington in North London.

“We decided to prosecute Oliver Steadman with a total of five victims working in politics and Westminster with blackmail and five communication crimes.

“This follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, looking at messages that contain unwanted images sent to several people in Parliamentary political circles using WhatsApp between October 2023 and April 2024.

“Our prosecutors tried to determine that there is enough evidence to take this case to court and that it is in the public interest to maintain criminal cases.”

Mr. Steadman will appear on November 3 at the Westminster Magistrate Court.