Gloucestershire councillor admits harassing businessman outside bar on night out

A Gloucestershire councillor has admitted harassing a well-known businessman after hurling abuse during an altercation outside a bar on a night out, a court heard.

Alastair Chambers, 45, called Justin Hudson, 50, a “nonce” and a “f****** paedophile” in the late-night dust-up.

Gloucestershire Magistrates’ Court heard the dispute broke out after Chambers’s friend was refused entry by door staff to Butler’s Venue Bar in Gloucester, which is owned by Mr Hudson.

Part of the incident was recorded on a mobile phone by a witness, in which Chambers could be heard loudly telling his friend: “Luke, you don’t put money in a paedophile’s f****** pocket.

“He messaged my son. I got screenshots of the lot of it.

“It’s all going to come out, but the guy’s a f****** paedophile. The guy’s a f****** paedophile.

“He won’t let you in. He works for a nonce.”

Chambers, an independent councillor on Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council, had been due to stand trial accused of an offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

But as the trial was beginning, he pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Hudson in the early hours of 5 October last year.

In a written basis of plea, Holly Burton, representing Chambers, said the defendant admitted saying the words recorded on the mobile phone, but maintained they were not made directly to the complainant.

“The defendant will state that in an attempt to remove a third party from an escalating confrontation with the door staff at Butler’s, he made a number of comments as outlined below to this third party,” Miss Burton said.

“As such, the comments were not directed at Justin Hudson. However, as per the charge, it is accepted that the words were said with the intention of causing Justin Hudson alarm.

“The defendant accepts making all comments as per the recording.”

Miss Burton said that Chambers maintained he had not made a series of other alleged comments, which included: “How can you work for a nonce? How can you back him?

“You’re all nonces. He’s taking care of the boys, you’re taking care of the girls. Why are you supporting that paedophile? People like you disgust me. He’s a f****** nonce.

“He loves the young ones. I told you, wait and see. I’m going to destroy you, little prick. You, you and you all work for a nonce. You need your phones checked.”

Miss Burton went on: “The defendant does not accept any homophobic comments, specifically as follows: F****** bender, f****** gay c***.

“The defendant does not accept lunging towards the complainant.

“So effectively, this is a guilty plea to the full recording.”

Graham Dono, prosecuting, said he wanted to give the court some “context” to the offence.

“The defendant was with a friend, walked past the Butler’s Bar, and it appears that the defendant’s friend wanted to enter the bar, and he was refused entry,” he said.

“That’s when this incident unfolded.

“Against the background, which hasn’t been mentioned in the basis, the defendant is a sitting councillor.

“The victim in this case, Mr Hudson, used to be a councillor as well and there clearly has been over the years some beef between the two of them.”

Mr Dono added: “Clearly, Mr Hudson was caused alarm and distress by this.

“Those words were directed towards Mr Hudson’s head of security. Mr Hudson himself, the victim, is standing right there.

“That’s why the basis plea has to reflect that the intention was that Mr Hudson hear those words because it’s right next to the security guard.”

Mr Dono said he would be applying for a restraining order against Chambers.

Miss Burton said she may be asking the court to impose a financial penalty by way of sentence.

“But I do appreciate that with Mr Chambers’s previous convictions and the fact that he is a councillor of course, not that he was acting in public office at the time of the offence,” she said.

“It is also relevant for you to be aware that the defendant is currently under the community mental health services.

“I do think that some exploration into that might be beneficial to the defendant’s report on the next occasion.”

District Judge Nicholas Wattam adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports and ordered Chambers, of Quedgeley, Gloucester, to return to court on 7 December.

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: “You have admitted the offence on a basis and it is the basis upon which you will be sentenced.