Maria Miller branded 'Nazi pervert' by man court hears

Michael Bedford, of Hillary Road, in Oakridge, Basingstoke sent the message as part of a campaign of harassment against former Cabinet minister Maria Miller.

The 59-year-old had been given a restraining order and banned by a court from contacting the town’s MP on matters outside of constituency business.

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However, a jury was told he broke the order little more than six months later by sending her a 'sinister' email accusing her of lying in the case against him.

The message was designed to cause the MP 'fear and distress', the court heard.

Bedford was handed a restraining order by Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, on September 20 last year after he was found guilty of harassing Mrs Miller.

Jurors at Salisbury Crown Court, Wilts, were told that in April he disobeyed the order by sending the Basingstoke MP an 'intimidating' email, which criticised her evidence in the previous court case.

In the message, Bedford accused Mrs Miller - who served as Culture Secretary under Prime Minister David Cameron - of lying in her victim impact statement.

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"Did you genuinely think that you couldn't be home alone in case I attacked or murdered you?" he asked, referencing murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess.

"I have friends and relatives who would be horrified if an ogre like me could be allowed to terrify them in the way I did to you.

"You must be livid with the police for taking no action after they arrested me three times for calling you a 'pervert with Nazi attitudes'."

The court heard Bedford said if local police wouldn't protect 'Dame Maria Miller', they certainly wouldn't protect other women in the constituency.

Prosecuting, Julian Winship told the court: "[Bedford] was motivated by a personal animosity for Mrs Miller. The email that he sent was not constituency business as properly and fairly defined.

"It was in truth motivated by his hatred of Mrs Miller and its tone was sinister, intimidating and sarcastic."

Mr Winship said Bedford was not allowed to contact Mrs Miller or her husband, Iain Miller, and said the email was 'dressed in general terms to mask the true purpose of it'.

He added: "The email was designed to cause Mrs Miller fear and distress. The defendant had no real concern for his fellow constituents - he was concerned with pursuing his vendetta to his local MP."

The court heard Bedford sent the email in the early hours of April 11 this year and was arrested later that evening.

During his police interview, he described the harassment court case as 'farcical' and said his hatred for Mrs Miller started when he complained about a particular incident and she 'just dug in her heels and maintained it had nothing to do with her'.

He insisted he did not think his 'behaviour was at all threatening'.

"Maria Miller is a politician who can twist things - she's pretty thick-skinned," he told police.

He added that he referred to the MP as just 'Miller' because he 'hates the woman' and has 'no respect for her at all'.

Bedford denies one charge of acting in breach of a restraining order.

The trial continues.