Man admits threatening to kill Bishop Auckland MP Sam Rushworth

A person has admitted threatening to kill his MP after saying he wished to lock him in a constructing and set fireplace to it.

Benjamin Clarke, 31, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court docket.

He pleaded responsible to creating threats to kill MP Sam Rushworth, and a malicious communications offence.

Clarke, of Durham Road, was granted bail with the situation he should not contact the Labour MP forward of his sentencing on 16 January at Durham Crown Court docket.

Sara Kemp, prosecuting, mentioned Clarke contacted the MP in August on social media, saying: “I can’t wait to your subsequent public look, you can be fortunate to go away it in a single piece.”

Rushworth then blocked him, stopping any additional malicious communications offences, Ms Kemp mentioned.

The next month, Clarke advised two psychological well being practitioners he wished to seek out the MP and smash his head off a pavement, to set fireplace to a constructing he was in after which “lock all of the doorways so I might hear him screaming”.

Clarke added: “I will do it, it is only a matter of time.”

Ms Kemp mentioned the MP had made a sufferer assertion and was notably involved for the security of his household.

Amrit Jandoo, defending, mentioned Clarke had no political beliefs or malice in the direction of Rushworth, “however it’s fairly clear he has taken umbrage towards the MP”.

He requested for a pre-sentence report back to be made earlier than Clarke’s crown courtroom look.

Mr Jandoo mentioned his consumer had a historical past of psychological well being remedy.

He added: “He would totally settle for that his behaviour on these events has been very poor.”