An East Cowes Town Council meeting was disrupted last night (Thursday) after a man refused to leave and Police were called.
Simon Wheeler entered East Cowes Town Hall partway through the full council meeting, taking a seat and refusing to leave when asked.
He had previously been convicted of using threatening, abusive and insulting words with the intent to cause fear of unlawful violence towards Councillor Karl Love, a member of both the Isle of Wight Council and East Cowes Town Council.
As part of the conditions of his conviction, Wheeler was given a 12-month restraining order.
The meeting was adjourned while the mayor of East Cowes and other members of the council asked him to leave. Cllr Love and other members of the town council claimed Wheeler should not be in the room and some members attempted to persuade him to leave.
Police were called at 18:22, with 3 units attending, receiving a report that a man had allegedly breached a restraining order. Mr Wheeler left the building before officers arrived but remained outside to talk to them.
Cllr Love returned to the meeting and apologised for the commotion.
Police have today (Friday) confirmed that a 55-year-old man has been arrested following the incident on suspicion of breaching a restraining order. He remains in custody.
So the bullying council’s didn’t like a bully near them my heart bleeds
Three police units for one man no wonder our council tax is so high
Small thought Anon…. what if the guy kicked off, and more go into the scrap, would have taken more than one officer to break it up… unknown if the chap was tooled up.. !
Two wrongs do not make a right.
very true so why do the council all ways do wrong
Did no one let Mr Wheeler know it was 31st March and fools Day is a day later 1st April ?
Bearing in mind the murder of two MPS, do you think that threatening and putting in fear a local politician should be a cause for sarcastic digs? Perhaps you would have thought it more serious if it had been a female under threat.
Was just pointing out Mr Wheeler is a fool and quite right he was ejected and arrested – am a friend of Mr Love and threats to anyone is wrong, but no mention he made any threats at this parish council meeting.
Arriving halfway through he must have got the floating bridge.