A MAN has been charged with blackmail over alleged WhatsApp messages sent to multiple people within Westminster politics.
Oliver Steadman, 28, is accused of sending messages to five victims, including MPs, the Crown Prosecution Service and Scotland Yard said.
Steadman has been charged with one count of blackmail in relation to alleged unwarranted demands for the phone numbers of up to 12 people from one victim, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
He has also been charged with a communications offence of improper use of a public electronic communications network, in relation to the same victim.
He furthermore faces four counts of improper use of a public electronic communications network in relation to four other victims.
This relates to the sending of alleged unsolicited indecent images.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: “We have decided to prosecute Oliver Steadman with blackmail and five communications offences in relation to a total of five victims working within politics and Westminster.
“This follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service which looked into messages that included alleged unsolicited indecent images sent to a number of people within parliamentary political circles between October 2023 and April 2024 using WhatsApp.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”
Steadman will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 3.
GettySteadman is accused of sending messages to five people within Westminster politics[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
