Email sent – Thu 23/07/2009 08:35
c.c. amongst others cllr.sue.derbyshire@stockport.gov.uk; Cllr Mark Weldon cllr.mark.weldon@stockport.gov.uk; Cllr David White cllr.david.white@stockport.gov.uk; Cllr Dave Goddard cllr.dave.goddard@stockport.gov.uk; Chief.Constable@gmp.police.uk; casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk; BAKER, Norman BAKERN@parliament.uk; FOI Officer foi.officer@stockport.gov.uk; John Schultz chief.executive@stockport.gov.uk; media@stockport.gov.uk; Office of Chris Davies MEP chris@chrisdaviesmep.org.uk;
Dear Mr Rusbridger
I read with interest the Guardian’s recent articles on miscarriages of justice. Please see below the apparently gloating email from the Leader of Stockport Council to me, which as I understand it is a very serious breach of Data Protection legislation, as well as revealing a worrying level of sarcasm and delight at the plight of a simple (and I mean that as a compliment), kind, helpful, gentle, determined and very brave man and the obvious detrimental effect his imprisonment will have on his already troubled daughters, whose lives were very seriously damaged by their birth family. Having got nowhere over a decade with his request to Stockport Council for help with his troubled adopted daughters – and they would be costing Stockport Council a lot of money were they still in care – he decided to stand on the town hall steps, which he did for two years constantly being harrassed by Stockport Council and having the police called to him repeatedly -one one occasion I witnessed with flashing blue lights, so called as an emergency. I do not blame the police, who have been extremely kind and helpful to Mr. Parnell and apparently have to respond if there is a breach of the peace alleged. There is a legal right to peaceful protest, but not in Stockport.
Why couldn’t the Council simply deal with his problem in a reasonable manner? You may well feel this is an isolated incident but I have been publicly abused and victimised for pointing out that a proposed school, costing millions and millions overbudget with no proper explanation of the increase in cost, which is illegally taking public open space, is actually going on a former toxic dump on which no contamination investigations at all have been carried out over the site of the proposed school, which is actually directly over the tip. I have had dirty tricks played on me too by this Council.
We need now to forensically find out what the many, many police call-outs have cost, the court time – one trial last January being abandoned on the day of the hearing. We need to find out what this cost in keeping Mr. Parnell in prison, where he was last week for breaching a court order not to come within a mile of the town hall. All he had done was use the public lavatory in the town hall. What a disgusting abuse of power by Stockport Council.
Well, they have picked on the wrong man. Mr. Parnell is honest and courageous and because his daughters are involved he can’t give up.
Mr. Rusbridger, I shall keep you informed step by step of what happens next in this miscarriage of justice we have the misfortune to be witnessing first hand.
With very warmest best wishes
Sheila
—– Original Message —–
From: Cllr Dave Goddard
To: sheilaoliver
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 5:40 PM
Subject: Mr. Parnell
Dear Sheila
Mr. Parnell was charged with breaching the ASBO on 16th and 17th July 2009 by entering the Town Hall. He appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court from custody on 18th July 2009. He was apparently adamant that he would not abide by bail conditions and so was remanded in custody to Forest Bank to appear today.
He did appear today. He pleaded not guilty and elected Crown Court trial. His next appearance is before the Magistrates on 14th September 2009. Today his solicitor applied for bail which was opposed by the CPS. The Magistrates did grant bail. I have attached the actual bail notice. His condition is not to come within 1 mile of the Town Hall. The only exception is when he is appearing in court or by prior written appointment made by his solicitor. There is no exception for attendance at any meeting within that exclusion zone and that was made clear to him. These conditions appear to be unambiguous. It is fair to say that Parnell was less than enthusiastic about these conditions.
Just keeping you in the loop.
Fondest wishes,
Dave,
Ps, Glad you enjoyed the Stepping Hill by-election it makes it all worth it.
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Stockport Council is officially one of the best in the country.
Awarded four stars and improving strongly by the Audit Commission March 2009. (ha ha – Sheila)
This email, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and
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