Hate campaign Tory candidate slashed tyres, made silent phone calls and sent gay magazines to political rivals

A former Tory parliamentary candidate faces jail after admitting a two-year hate campaign against his Liberal Democrat rivals.

Ian Oakley, 31, slashed tyres, made false accusations of child abuse and sent poison pen letters. 

He admitted five counts of criminal damage and two counts of harassment today.

His lawyer asked for 68 further offences to be taken into account. 

Lib Dem MP Edward Davey yesterday called on Tory leader David Cameron to hold an urgent inquiry into the matter and accused Watford Conservative Party of failing to carry out a proper investigation.

The Lib Dems in Watford, a key marginal seat for the Tories, said that Oakley began harassing them in the run-up to the 2005 general election when he was campaign manager for the Conservatives.

They claim he committed more than 150 offences. 

In November 2006, Durham University graduate Oakley was selected as Tory candidate to contest the Labour seat. Donna Rayner, prosecuting, told St Albans Magistrates' Court in Hertfordshire that one of Oakley's targets was Lib Dem candidate Sal Brinton.

She said: 'Mrs Brinton had lesbian magazines sent to her home address. 

'Campaign material was sent to her office which had been defaced with such phrases as "Go back to Cambridge, you evil bitch".' 

Oakley  -  who remains an independent councillor in Hillingdon, North London, after resigning from the Tory party  -  also made silent phone calls at night to Mrs Brinton.

Another victim of Oakley's campaign was Russell Wilson, a Watford Borough councillor who had the words 'scum scum perve' spray-painted on to a wall at his home. 

Miss Rayner said: 'Letters were in fact sent to his neighbours stating he was a member of a child abuse ring.'

On July 18, covert CCTV recordings caught Oakley red-handed with a can of spray paint. He was arrested and resigned from the party the next day. 

Targeted: LibDem Sal Brinton

Oakley told police of his desire to change the political landscape of Watford and secure victory in the next general election.

He initially denied any involvement in the attacks but came clean when confronted with fingerprint evidence from the letters. 

He later admitted using a Stanley knife and a hatchet to slash all four tyres on Watford councillor Mark Watkin's car, causing £240 of damage. 

Magistrate Barry Northrop adjourned sentencing until September 16. Oakley was granted bail on the condition he does not contact any victims and witnesses in the case. 

Mr Northrop told Oakley that his actions had caused 'great personal distress' to his victims and their families, adding: 'We regard the charges and the offences against you as to be very, very serious indeed  -  so serious that custody would be an option.'

Oakley, of West Drayton, North West London, spoke only to confirm his name and address and to enter the guilty plea in court.

A spokesman for the Conservatives said they could not comment on the issue as Oakley was no longer a member of the party.