Ex Army Lance Corporal threatened to shoot Alastair Campbell in the back of the head while in rage over Brexit and Iraq War, court hears
- Lee Gould, 47, from Kent, emailed Alastair Campbell after hearing him on radio
- He wrote: ‘As a former guardsman I would happily put one in back of your skull’
- Mr Campbell said reference to Gould’s military background caused further alarm
- Gould admitted sending distressing email and was bailed ahead of sentencing
An ex-Army Lance Corporal threatened to shoot Alastair Campbell in the back of the head while in a rage over Brexit and the Iraq war, a court heard.
Lee Gould, 47, of Rochester, Kent, emailed Tony Blair’s former spin doctor on April 25 last year to say: ‘I find it absolutely staggering that someone like you is able to mince around without serious harm to yourself or your family.
‘As a former guardsman I would happily put one in the back of your skull.’
Gould sent the email during a mental health crisis and there was no evidence he was obsessed with the 63-year-old writer, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.
Mr Campbell said in a statement that he was ‘used to receiving bad messages’ but this email was particularly shocking and worrying ‘due to the venomous references to family’.
Lee Gould (pictured left), 47, threatened to shoot Alastair Campbell (right, file photo) in the back of the head while in a rage over Brexit and the Iraq war, a court heard
He said the reference to Gould’s military background caused further alarm.
Gould, who told police he is a Brexit supporter, sent the email after hearing Mr Campbell speak on the radio.
He admitted dislike for the ex-Labour communications chief due to his actions regarding the Iraq War while in Downing Street, reports the Evening Standard.
Gould told police: ‘Just like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin, he is a leader who seems oblivious to his toxicity and what’s out there.’
‘The overarching aim was for him to understand there are people out there that don’t like him.’
Greg Stewart, defending, said: ‘This is not a campaign, it was a very, very poor lapse in a very, very low situation. The risk of recurrence is low.
‘The clinical psychiatrist is saying that there’s been a major turn around in his mental health and since accommodation was secured for his address, as well as efforts undertaken by himself.
‘There has been nothing of this ilk since. This is not the tip of the iceberg, plotting harm against prominent members of public, it was a short message of two lines.
‘It was all there, easy for him to type in his state of anger at the time.’
He added: ‘There’s no suspicion that he’s got an obsession with Mr Campbell, apart from hearing on Radio 5 that he has any prior or post dealings whatsoever.
Gould sent the email during a mental health crisis and there was no evidence he was obsessed with the 63-year-old writer, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court (pictured above) heard
‘He’s never targeted Mr Campbell before or since.’
Gould admitted sending the distressing email but sentence was adjourned after the prosecutor was unable to confirm whether Mr Campbell wants a restraining order to be imposed.
Judge Alison Rose said: ‘Currently it’s preferable to have the views of the complainant before making a restraining order.
‘The Crown has made the application to make a restraining order and I need to make an informed decision on that.
‘I regret that I have to adjourn to 29 March.’
Gould admitted one count of sending a letter, communication or article conveying a threatening message to Mr Campbell under the Malicious Communications Act, 1988.
He was bailed ahead of his sentencing on 29 March.
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