10 May 2005

Ex-Mp and Aide Win Online Harassment Injunction

Very interesting.   How then was the hearing in private, as directed by Master Foster

on 21 March 2005?

Former Labour MP Geraint Davies and a caseworker today won a permanent injunction against a disgruntled constituent who had harassed them over the internet.

Mr Justice Eady, at London's High Court, made the order against Thomas Moore on the basis of the "abusive, offensive, false and defamatory" material which he had posted.

He adjourned an application for Mr Moore's committal to prison for persistently flouting an existing temporary ban because he was not at court and there was a question over his mental health.

Derek Sweeting QC said that Mr Davies, who lost his Croydon Central seat to the Tories in last week's General Election, and barrister Sarah Branson had both been targeted since Mr Moore contacted the MP about a housing problem in 1999.

He said Mr Moore attended a constituency surgery the next year and "took umbrage" when he discovered that steps had been taken to deal with the possibility that he might become violent if not offered the assistance he needed.

"It is clear he is the sort of individual who bears a grievance or grudge out of all proportion to any offence which might have been caused to him by the steps which were taken – he would say – secretly or without his knowledge."

Ms Branson, who was a caseworker for Mr Davies at the time, had no contact with Mr Moore at all except for arranging for his attendance at the surgery, said counsel.

The judge said that Mr Moore, who now lives in Pares Land Walk, Rochdale, Lancashire, had established domain names and links using the names of Mr Davies and Ms Branson to intercept routine internet searches connected with their professional lives.

A number of allegations were included about Ms Branson "of a salacious character" which attracted unwelcome attention and caused her anxiety and concern.

"She has a reasonable apprehension that the publicity she has been given poses a threat to her physical safety."

Mr Moore has also assumed their identities and used the internet in their names to post material which could be characterised as racist and homophobic.

Since a temporary injunction was obtained in February, Mr Moore had set up further websites.

"It appears therefore that he is incorrigible", said the judge.

Mr Moore's conduct, which was oppressive, unreasonable and calculated to cause alarm and distress, plainly amounted to harassment.

He made a permanent order banning Mr Moore from publishing material on the internet about Mr Davies and Ms Branson and from contacting them other than through solicitors.

Mr Davies was in court but declined to comment.