A former editor has denied sending an obscene or menacing tweet to a Jewish campaigner.
Greg Hadfield, 68, has been banned from mentioning Fiona Sharpe or her family while he awaits trial in June.
The charge relates to a post he made on Twitter – now known as X – which included a screenshot of a pornographic image tweeted by former Hove MP Ivor Caplin, tagging in @FionaSharpe.
At his first appearance at Brighton Magistrates Court today, Hadfield said the tweet was not sent to anyone.
He said: “To the charge of posting a single screenshot of an Ivor Caplin post, I plead not guilty.”
Prosecuting, Suzanne Soros requested permission for Ms Sharpe to give evidence over videolink from a different courtroom on the basis she would find it too difficult to give her best evidence in person.
She said: “She is extremely anxious and would not like to give evidence in the same court as the defendant.”
Hadfield, of Surrenden Road, has instructed lawyers, but was representing himself today as his solicitor is on holiday.
He said he had “invested a significant amount of money” on his legal representation and was intending on instructing a KC for the trial.
District judge Tessa Szagun told him that if for any reason his legal representation was not available, he should contact the court so a duty solicitor could be instructed to cross examine Ms Sharpe.
She said it was appropriate to grant the bail conditions requested by the prosecution, telling him: “You do not mention or contact directly or indirectly Fiona Sharpe.
“From what you are saying you have no intention or wish to do so.
“And not to tag or mention her on any public forum, or her family … on the basis that I’m told that there were other tweets that have impacted on the family of Ms Sharpe.”
Complete stitch up of Greg Hadfield. It was a retweet which wasn’t even sent to Fiona Sharpe. If she was going to be offended she should have had a go at her mate Ivor Caplin who the message originated from. Why was it only offensive when Greg Hadfield retweeted it?
“A former editor”? What of fag packets? The Daily Planet?
Sloppy journalism.
It’s a good point: Wadsworth has edited out – inexplicably – a reference in an earlier version of the article to me having been a former editor of Brighton & Hove Independent, which was bought by Johnston Press (in 2015).
The headline is in contempt of court: I did not “deny sending menacing tweet to Jewish campaigner”. Nor did I deny sending an obscene tweet to anyone.
I have asked for the headline to be changed.
As the article reports (almost correctly, I stated [verbatim]: ““To the charge of posting a single screenshot of an Ivor Caplin post on X, I plead not guilty.”
Hi Greg,
I haven’t received any emails or missed calls from you. Frank is off today, but if you want to outline your concern over the headline, please email jo@brightonandhovenews.org
Astonishing. Was Caplin’s ethno-religion mentioned in the article about him? Will it be when his police sting-related court case comes up, I wonder?
Without prejudice: I have left a voicemail with editor Frank le Duc. Given your prejudicial reporting – despite reporting restrictions – I don’t think it appropriate for me to communicate with you.
Incredible Mr Hadfield is having to deal with what seems a massive distraction from the real interest here, namely the person who posted the original tweet/s which carried the lurid content, whose own case is coming up and whose X account has been closed: moreover an account which named senior Labour Party figures amongst its followers. Some of his acquaintances surely must at some time have known about the account holder’s antics which have resulted him being subject to a police sting mentioned a couple of weeks ago in this very paper. Your own case seems a heck of a waste of tax payers’ money to me.
So Ms Sharpe goes on a malicious offensive to ruin a man’s life because anything she does not agree with is now a crime against her, but lacks the courage of her convictions to appear in the court room herself. Says it all. Cancel culture would appear to be a way to bully non-violently. Well Ms Sharpe, you have a human right to be offended. Enjoy.
Good to see Greg and his little friends so triggered 😊
Good to see subject-of-police-sting Caplin’s little friends triggered I’d say.
Not at all. Drinking your tears 🤣 You any relation to our esteemed new American Ambassador? He keeps interesting company.
Ah you mean Friend of Epstein. No way. Why wd I respect a Right Winger such as he?
For those of us who have lived in Brighton and Hove for a long time, there’s so much political history here.
This video from 8 years ago might suggest some of the issues.
I guess when people have a major difference politically then the personal spats might go on for years.
This one has the makings of a major soap opera plot, with verbal fights between slippery eels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3QMzvU8Ggw
As someone pointed out at the meeting the other night, does anyone know why Ivor Caplin has been using his public X/Twitter feed as a pick up joint for young lads? Has he not heard of Grindr? Has he taken complete leave of his senses? Clearly the lovely Fiona S must approve of this unseemly behaviour in a Labour comrade, bringing their party into disrepute, if she tried to criminalise the journalist pointing this out, rather than complaining about Caplin’s activities!
Not everyone you assume to be a Labour Party member is actually a member. Whatever s/he says on occasion.
Labour PM Starmer has 25 mslm MPs yet Blair warned of the threat of Islam- see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11182225
yet he appointed gay Lord Walli who is bribing Starmer with freebies.
with recent events in Germany and Austria – and the stabbing of the Essex MP – Southport attack – what is Labour going to do about the blatant threat of the muslim jihaid terrorists?