On 28 September 2020, Webbe was charged with harassment of a woman between 1 September 2018 and 26 April 2020. She was placed on unconditional bail to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Webbe was suspended from the Labour whip pending the outcome of the case. On 11 November 2020, Webbe pleaded not guilty.
The harassment was directed at a woman who was having an affair with her partner, and allegedly included a threat to send 'naked' photographs of the victim to her children. The threats also allegedly included Webbe saying "You should be acid".
Webbe was found guilty on 13 October 2021. District Judge Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate, said her evidence was "untruthful", and that her defence was "vague, incoherent and at times illogical". A further hearing took place on 4 November 2021, when she was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 200 hours of unpaid work. The Labour Party had called on her to resign from Parliament at the time of her conviction, and she was expelled from the party on the day she was sentenced.
Webbe appealed against the conviction and the appeal hearing commenced at Southwark Crown Court on 19 May 2022. Her appeal was dismissed on 26 May 2022, though her sentence was reduced to eighty hours of community service, and compensation to the victim reduced from £1,000 to £50. The judge found that Webbe had not "made a threat to throw acid over" Michelle Merritt. The judge stated Merritt was an "unsatisfactory witness" who had "told lies". As Webbe's reduced sentence was not custodial, it did not trigger a constituency recall petition under the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
In February 2021, Webbe apologised after an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found that she had broken the Code of Conduct for MPs by her late registrations of remunerations received for her role as a councillor in Islington. The Commissioner also noted the late registration of a payment received from a business.
Also in 2021, Webbe stated on Twitter that "Earth is overpopulated; there are too many rich people. To solve the climate crisis; the rich must be abolished", a remark that drew criticism in view of her (then) £81,000-per-year MP's salary.
MP found guilty of threatening behaviour
Corruption Level: 10
Content:
Ex-Labour MP Claudia Webbe was found guilty of harassment after threatening to hurl ACID over a love rival.
The MP for Leicester East - who was suspended from the Labour party in 2020 - could now face a by-election if handed a prison sentence.
The trial heard she had threatened to send nude pics of Michelle Merritt to her children after growing jealous of her relationship with boyfriend Lester Thomas.
The court heard Webbe, 56, of Islington in London, became 'Obsessed' with Ms Merritt and referred to her as a "slag".
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard she made a string of threatening calls to 59-year-old Ms Merritt between September the 1st 2018 and April the 26th 2020.
Webbe had denied the allegations and following the verdict said she was "deeply shocked" at the outcome of the trial. She said "I am innocent and will appeal this verdict. As I said in court and repeat now, I have never threatened violence nor have I ever harassed anyone."
Her lawyer, Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at social justice law firm Hodge Jones & Allen added "We will be appealing this unjust verdict. The recording of the call Ms Webbe made has been taken out of context. We are sure that Ms Webbe will be vindicated at an appeal."
If Webbe was handed a prison sentence it would have triggered a parliamentary recall that would have forced her to fight a by-election. If she was sent behind bars for more than a year she would have automatically lose her seat.
Specialist Prosecutor Lisa Rose, of the CPS Special Crime Division which brought the case, said "Claudia Webbe's persistent nuisance behaviour caused considerable distress and alarm to her victim who became genuinely concerned for her safety. Webbe told police she did not appreciate the calls were unwanted or causing distress. However the prosecution case was that the police had issued her with a clear warning about her conduct. No-one should have to endure this sort of harassment. We are determined to bring perpetrators to justice and help protect victims."
Outcome:
Webbe appealed against the conviction, and the appeal hearing commenced at Southwark Crown Court on the 19thth of May 2022, though her sentence was reduced to eighty hours of community service, and compensation to the victim reduced from £1,000 to £50.