James Phillips pleaded guilty to malicious communications yesterday following an abusive phone call to the MP’s office last week

(Credit – Met Police)

A man has been convicted after making a threatening and abusive phone call to Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer last week.

James Phillips, 46, of Brampton Park Road in Wood Green pleaded guilty to malicious communications at Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday.

An investigation was launched last Thursday (1st February) when police were contacted by Freer’s office after he received a threatening and abusive phone call the previous day.

Phillips was arrested on Tuesday before appearing in court yesterday.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker after attempting to strike a police officer while he was in custody.

He will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 6th March.

The incident came after Freer announced last week that would step down from parliament following death threats and an arson attack on his office.

In a comment piece for Barnet Post this week, Labour candidate for Finchley and Golders Green Sarah Sackman described Freer’s decision to step down as “a wake up call” adding that “all parties need to come together to ensure the safety of our politicians and our democracy.”

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