'Conspiracy theory' stalker who left Gavin Williamson 'uneasy' has appeal rejected

A stalker has had an appeal against his conviction rejected after he left former cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson feeling 'uneasy' and 'stressed.' Simon Parry "persistently followed" the former education secretary and defence secretary on two occasions last year.

And on Wednesday, July 10, Southwark Crown Court was told Parry was originally sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in November 2023. The sentencing came a month after he was found guilty of stalking at a City of London Magistrates' Court trial.

Sir Gavin, who was elected to the new Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge seat in this month's General Election, was pursued by Parry, 45, of Walworth, south London, on May 24 and June 14 2023.

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In video footage captured by Parry of the two incidents, Sir Gavin was seen being bombarded by questions and statements regarding conspiracy theories around coronavirus, Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum.

A panel led by Mr Justice Joel Bennathan rejected Parry's request to have his conviction overturned, noting that while the defendant may not have believed his actions were those of stalking, Sir Gavin had been left "scared" by the incidents.

Sir Gavin told Southwark Crown Court that he just wanted to "get out" after being first approached by Parry as he walked from Whitehall towards Parliament on May 24. He described being "stressed" about the interaction and that Parry had been "very hostile, very assertive", adding: "I was being filmed with these uneasy statements being made.

"It felt like someone was trying to trap you." The court heard that less than a month later on June 14, Sir Gavin was followed again by Parry - this time for 22 minutes as he walked from the parliamentary estate towards Euston train station.

When Sir Gavin approached the station, Parry threatened the politician with a citizen's arrest. As a result of the incident, Sir Gavin said he was no longer sure whether he would be happy were his family to stay with him in the capital.

Sir Gavin continued: "My family in Staffordshire always felt safe in my constituency. It makes me wonder about having my family in London... I would be mortified if my children had to experience that."

The court heard that Parry did not believe his actions had been those of a stalker, claiming to have had similar meetings with now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Tory frontbencher Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.

On his interaction with Sir Gavin, Parry added: "I just wanted to ask him one question and that's what I waited for. It could have been over in one minute."

Parry, supported in court by Piers Corbyn, said his antics on camera were like those of 1990s show Trigger Happy TV, in which public stunts were created in order to shock and entertain.