Oliver Steadman, a former Labour councillor, has pleaded not guilty to blackmailing former Conservative MP William Wragg in an alleged Westminster honeytrap plot, according to multiple media reports. Steadman has been charged with one count of blackmail and five allegations of improper use of a public electronic communications network. He entered his not guilty plea to the blackmail charge at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, as reported by major media outlets.
The charges against Steadman relate to allegations that he was behind a series of 'flirty' messages and explicit images sent to MPs and Westminster figures, according to major media. It is alleged that between February 1 and March 31, 2024, Steadman made unwarranted demands for contact telephone numbers of up to 12 individuals from William Wragg with menaces. Steadman used the aliases 'Abi' and 'Charlie' in the alleged scheme, according to research sources.
William Wragg resigned the Tory whip in April 2024 and stood down from Parliament after admitting giving out politicians' phone numbers to someone he met on dating app Grindr, according to major media. Steadman is accused of being the person who was in contact with William Wragg, as reported by major media. William Wragg, then-Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, was a victim who resigned the Conservative party whip after admitting he handed over colleagues' phone numbers, according to research sources.
Other victims include Conservative MPs Dr. Luke Evans, Ben Proctor, Ben Everitt, and Ross Thomson, according to research sources. Steadman did not enter pleas to charges of sending menacing messages to William Wragg and sending indecent images to Ben Everitt, Luke Evans, Ross Thomson, and Ben Proctor, according to major media. The Crown Prosecution Service announced charges, with Malcolm McHaffie stating the case involves five victims working within politics and Westminster, according to Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division.
The investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service began after unsolicited WhatsApp messages were reported between October 2023 and April 2024, according to research sources. At least twelve men in political circles received unsolicited messages, with two reportedly sending explicit images in response, according to research sources.
Last year, Griffin recommended that patriotic young Brits join the Army Reserve for military training ahead of a 'civil war'.
Steadman previously represented Labour as a councillor in Islington, according to major media. He was working for the mental health charity Mind, as reported by major media. Steadman resigned as a Labour councillor in Islington after his initial arrest in June 2024, forcing a by-election, according to research sources.
Steadman appeared in court for a hearing in front of Judge Alexander Milne KC at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, with a trial expected to last up to three weeks, according to research sources. Judge Tony Baumgartner adjourned the case for a three-week trial starting October 4, 2027, according to major media. A further pre-trial hearing is due on October 12, 2026, as reported by major media.
Steadman was released on unconditional bail until a further hearing on February 10, according to major media. Steadman will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, 3 November 2025 for a first hearing, according to research sources.
Former BNP leader Nick Griffin has denied stirring up racial hatred with a cartoon during an appearance at Southwark Crown Court, according to major media. Griffin is facing a private criminal prosecution brought by activists from the Campaign Against Antisemitism, as reported by major media. Griffin pleaded not guilty to two charges: displaying material likely to stir up racial hatred and publishing or distributing material likely to stir up racial hatred, according to major media.
Griffin is accused over a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) featuring a cartoon of a giant spider with a Star of David on its head, posted on December 6, 2021, according to major media. The post was allegedly 'abusive or insulting' and Griffin is accused of intending to stir up racial hatred, as reported by major media.
Wragg said he was 'scared' because the scammer possessed compromising information about him.
Griffin, of Welshpool, Powys, sat behind his barrister for the day-long court hearing, according to major media. The trial for Griffin's case is set to begin on May 11 next year, as reported by major media.
Contradictions exist regarding the number of victims in the Oliver Steadman case, with the blackmail charge involving up to twelve individuals, but the overall case described as involving five victims. Similarly, there is confusion about Steadman's plea status, as he pleaded not guilty to a blackmail charge at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, but research sources indicate he has not yet entered pleas to any of the six charges.
Court appearance details for Oliver Steadman are also disputed, with one report stating he appeared before Judge Alexander Milne KC at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, while another says he will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 3, 2025. Bail conditions show different end dates, with one source citing bail until trial and another until February 10.
The political fallout from this case raises security concerns, as the alleged honeytrap plot exploited vulnerabilities in political circles. The involvement of multiple MPs and the use of dating apps highlight risks to personal and national security.
Key unknowns include the exact number of victims in the Oliver Steadman case and how many are directly involved in the blackmail charge versus the communications offences. The current plea status of Oliver Steadman regarding all charges is also unclear. Specific details and timeline of court appearances for Steadman, including upcoming hearings and the trial date, remain contradictory in reports.
Further unknowns involve the evidence supporting the allegations against Oliver Steadman, such as the content of the messages and images sent. For Nick Griffin's case, the nature and content of the antisemitic cartoon posted, and how it relates to the charges of stirring up racial hatred, are not detailed in available sources.