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Agoraphobic misses MP court case
An agoraphobic man charged with making threats via Twitter and email to Corby and East Northamptonshire MP Louise Mensch has failed to appear in court for a second time.
Frank Zimmerman is accused of making “indecent, obscene or menacing” threats against the Conservative MP and her children.
The 60-year-old, from Barnwood, Gloucester, was due to appear at Gloucester Magistrates’ Court after he failed to turn up to a hearing on December 12.
The court heard Zimmerman suffers from agoraphobia and depression and is likely to be a “wreck” if brought to court.
District Judge Martin Brown adjourned the hearing for three weeks in order for defence barrister Charles Cronin to obtain a clarification from the author of a psychiatric report.
Judge Brown said: “Having read the report of Dr Alcock it is my opinion that it would be wrong and unjust at this stage to either insist on the defendant attending or issue a warrant for his immediate arrest.
“He suffers from agoraphobia and depression and, whilst an intelligent man, he would suffer detrimentally if he were brought into a courtroom where he is likely to experience extreme anxiety or panic attacks.
“But in my opinion that diagnosis and condition should not hinder him from providing full instruction including his plea.”
Zimmerman, who is accused of waging a hate campaign against Mrs Mensch, faces a charge of improper use of a public network.
The case will next be heard at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on February 6.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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John Downes
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 10:31 AMIf this fellow is agoraphobic, why not bring the court round to his house? If he is found guilty and sent to jail, the conditions there will be not affect his agoraphobia much.
Postie Supporter
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 01:08 AMThis woman is a complete and utter disgrace. This so called MP, like the party she represents, are totally incompetent and out of touch with reality. Having said that I do not condone what this sad pathetic excuse of a human being has allegedly done to her children.
milistirith
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 04:33 PMI just do not undestand that this woman can draw a salary for being an MP. She fails this town(Corby) in a disgraceful way. Why are the Consevatives not seeking a new MP. How long will they endure her absense from her duties in this town? Whats the point in being clever and good looking if you dont help others, just taking taking taking in her greedy fashion is not acceptable behaviour. Meanwhile austere policies from her party make our lives harder as she rubs our noses in the dirt, flaunting her wealth, and promoting herself her husband and her husbands ex customers.Its time the rules were changed so that we can get a bad MP out! As far as being pestered by a nutter...she does not deserve that. But failing to do her job, we dont deserve that.
emporer
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 12:52 PMNo way would you want Sawford, I went to school with the jumped up git, really made a life of 'my dads an mp' rubbish, a pretentious idiot is what he is. Stick with what we have.
Mark Dragilocevic
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 12:06 PMWell said, 'jimmymk'. It's Mensch herself that's the problem, not her party. Although she's useless, no one should have their children threatened in this manner and I hope the 'agoraphobic' man feels the full weight of the law.
Subcomandante
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11:42 AMTerry, I'll not even bother trying to convince you mate, LOL ! It's a different picture for me, Mensch has seriously got to go and that'll only happen if the town votes Labour. History shows Corby (and the Steelmen) prosper better with Labour in control. And at least Sawford wants to get involved in Corby, Mensch probably doesn't even know there's a football club in the town. In fairness too, he's actually a Desborough lad. Mensch is from Surrey but bought a house in Oundle. She spends less time there than here. Back to the article, this joker wants locking up, threatening children is not on, despite how useless their mother is.
jimmymk
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:34 AMNo one should have their family subjected to what this individual is alleged to have done to Louis Mensch and her family. Thatgoes without saying. Just because someone is in the public eye they still have the right to their private and family life. The problem I have is that the MP for Corby and East Northants is clearly not suited to be an MP. She only seems to do anything if there is a camera or a reporter around. Both of the previous MPs in Corby William Powell (Tory) and Phil (Hope) Labour were available to help and answer constituents problems. I remember William Powell being very helpful when a member of my family needed an issue sorting out. He and his assistants really worked hard to help sort out a passport issue.Phil Hope was always very visible in the constituency. Even if you didn't agree with his politics he at least fought the corner.Louise seems only to be interested in Oundle and New York. She DOES NOT reply to correspondence. Even hardened Tories I speak to are visibly embarassed by Louise and her media antics. Not all of them of course, but enough to make a difference!
Ray Rodden
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 08:18 AMCorby doesn't need another mp who just wants to move up the ladder to be a minister. Andy Sawford should stand in his own home town of Kettering. If we must have someone from kettering then lets exchange him for his dad, Phil Sawford (who against all the odds actually increased his vote in the second term while Hope halved his!) showed his integrity by voting against some things labour were doing if he thought it wrong. I'd vote for Phil Sawford, not so sure about his son.
Beanfield Beast
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 12:51 AMYou do realise that our last MP Phil Hope lived in Kettering Borough as well. Oh the shame! Mrs Mensch at least occasionally spends a night in East Northants! I couldn't give a hoot if Mr Sawford is from Kettering, if he's a good candidate and shares my values, he'll be getting my vote. This is besides the point anyway, bad MP or good MP, it is not right to threaten one's children and I hope this cowardly fiend is brought to book one way or another.
CorbySocialist
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:54 PMThere's a theme of irony here. The accused online name caller is agoraphobic, a condition similar to that demonstrated by 'our' Louise who often fails to even come into Corby! Particularly when parliament is in recess when she flies out to the US. Our needs are full time, an MP who shares their time between the US and UK is not sufficient and will not do!
mad terry
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 06:18 PMI will not vote for any Sheep and i know a hell of a lot of people feel the same Labour shot them self in the foot on this one.. No Steelman and no Corby man ..........
Subcomandante
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 05:08 PM@Ray - I've met Andy Sawford and he'll be getting my vote. Even though he's from Kettering, it was Steel Park watching the Steelmen where I saw him, and on more than one occasion. If you can survive that hotbed of sheep-related dislike, then I think he'll do OK in Corby. He represents some of the Labour values I believe in, so where he lives doesn't bother me, and in all honesty Kettering is the poor relation these days so it's irrelevant. It's about getting this ineffective self serving muppet out of Corby AND East Northants.
Mrs Charmin
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 04:17 PMIs that a picture of him up at the top of the page? Ugly looking piece of work. Looks like a real criminal! He should cut his hair! and tidy himself up. As for agoraphobia being an excuse, it is a poor excuse. They can put a bag over his head, take him to the court, put him in a box and he will be fine. Then if he is convicted then he has the perfect place to go, a nice "comfortable" prison cell where he can spend a year or two or more!
Grumpy old git
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 04:06 PMRay Sorry m8 but the government these days are a farcical joke. I have had many times when i have had to approach my MP for whatever reason and never (i repeat ! never ! ) been blanked out and treated as a nobody before. This is how i felt when i approached the MP that was supposed to represent us in Parliament. Please don't get me wrong at this particular time. I !DO NOT! agree with this particular individual claiming that he said what he said because he was suffering from depression. In my opinion he said it and regretted what he said, therefore he needed to find an excuse. As a worker and supporter of people with depression, paranoia, agraphobia e.t.c, i can also say that my clients would never use this as an excuse for thier actions. Which in my opinion leads me to believe that this man needs to pay me a visit :) . But saying that, although Louises kids are the innocent parties and at no time should they be involved or threatened, she should accept the fact that she is a useless MP and resign. At the end of the day, if i thought my Kids were at risk, then i would remove myself from that situation.
the-special-one
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 03:46 PM@Grumpy old git, He didn't say it how it is. He made death threats against her kids. Her kids havent said or done anything to cause any offence have they. Nobody is defending her, Alot of people don't like her but thats her. If you were a parent yourself you would probably realise that no matter what somoenes parents do to offend people it does in no way mean that he or she's kids get brought into the situation.
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