Man sentenced following assault at Council meeting

Gary Leese pictured in 2019

A man has been sentenced to a six-month community order and ordered to pay out more than £300, following an incident that took place during an Oldham Council meeting last summer.

Gary Leese, aged 59, of Kandel Place in Whitworth, Rochdale, threw a plastic bottle at a member of Council staff amid chaotic and violent scenes in a Council meeting at the Civic Centre in July, 2022.

He was charged with common assault and was set to go to trial on Friday (February 17) at Tameside Magistrates Court, but instead pleaded guilty.

Leese was sentenced to a six-month community order and ordered to pay a total of £309, which included a fine of £60 and other costs.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “We will never tolerate abuse of council staff or Members, and will always seek to take the strongest possible action against those who think it is acceptable to harm, threaten or intimidate our colleagues.

“We welcome constructive challenge and debate, and actively encourage people to take part in democracy – but violence is never, and can never be, acceptable.

“I hope this case sends out a strong message to those who seek to undermine the democratic process, or prevent people from doing their jobs, with violent and abusive behaviour.

"Shameful scenes such as those in our Council chamber last July must never happen again.”

Leese, who had previously denied the charges, is also subject to a restraining order not to contact Oldham Council, following a previous offence from November, 2022.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes, welcomed the news of Mr Leese's punishment.

“Abuse of any kind is never acceptable in any walk of life," said Cllr Sykes in a statement. 

"Intimidation and assault of staff and members of the council have no place in Oldham Borough. 

"This individual has been taken to court and punished accordingly, and I welcome that.”

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