Call for probe into 'vile campaign'

Ian Oakley pleaded guilty to five charges of criminal damage and two counts of harassment against Liberal Democrats in Watford at St Albans Magistrates Court.

In a letter to party leader David Cameron, Lib Dem chair of campaigns and communications, Edward Davey urged him to look into the "vile campaign".

He said: "This was a disgraceful and criminal campaign aimed at intimidating candidates and voters and subverting the democratic process. It is vital that David Cameron takes action to determine why Watford Conservatives failed to investigate the matter properly and to ensure that such an appalling course of events is never repeated."

He called for Mr Cameron to launch an immediate investigation into the Watford Conservative Party to determine whether other members were involved, how the party had not uncovered the campaign, and why it failed to properly investigate.

He also urged the Tories to carry out a review of their selection process "to ensure that such obviously unsuitable individuals are no longer selected as Conservative candidates."

Oakley, 31, of Ryeland Close, West Drayton, north west London, also asked for 68 other offences to be taken into account. The court heard the then Watford prospective parliamentary candidate embarked on a hate campaign against Lib Dem rivals Sal Brinton and Russell Willson.

Oakley also daubed graffiti across Liberal Democrat headquarters in Watford, slashed tyres on cars belonging to councillors Peter Ray and Mark Watkin, and smashed the rear light and slashed tyres on a car owned by Nasreen Ajab using a hatchet and Stanley knife.

Donna Rayner, prosecuting, said Oakley's fingerprints had been found on envelopes containing the poison pen letters, and CCTV caught him in one of the graffiti incidents. She said he had been driven by a "desire to change the political landscape in Watford".

Oakley resigned as prospective parliamentary candidate for Watford on July 20, shortly after his arrest. Chair of magistrates Barry Northrop adjourned sentencing until September 16 to allow reports, including psychological reports, to be prepared.