Penrith man left drunken threats in voicemail to Workington MP

Andrew Blundell was embarrassed by his drunken phone calls

A man left rambling, abusive and threatening messages for an MP in a two drunken voicemails, a court has heard.

Andrew Blundell, 54, called Workington MP Mark Jenkinson on his Conservative Party office phone in August after drinking a quarter of a bottle of gin.

He appeared to warn against the MP sending him any more leaflets, saying "I keep an axe in my van", Carlisle Magistrates' Court heard.

Blundell, of Penrith, was given an 18-month community order.

He must also complete a rehabilitation requirement and 180 hours' unpaid work.

The court heard he twice called the office at 21:00 BST after reading a leaflet posted through his letterbox earlier that day.

There was no answer, prompting Blundell to leave two messages, in which he made a derogatory reference to Mr Jenkinson and a threatening reference to other unspecified people.

The voicemails were heard by a member of staff the following morning who was "alarmed" and concerned for the safety of her colleagues, prosecutor George Shelley told the court.

'Ashamed and embarrassed'

Blundell, of Mill Terrace, Penrith, pleaded guilty to a charge of sending a communication conveying a threatening message, saying he was "going through a difficult period" at the time.

His defence solicitor, Jeff Smith, said Blundell was a restorer of furniture and buildings and insisted he was "no threat to MPs".

Blundell had no recollection of the phone calls but had sought professional help and had not had alcohol since, he said.

He was "ashamed" and "embarrassed" by the voicemails, he added.

Lead magistrate John Lloyd told Blundell the offence was serious, especially because it involved an elected member of parliament.

"That is a threat to our democratic system. For that you could have received a custodial sentence," he told him.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Jenkinson said serving as an MP was "incredibly rewarding" but he was concerned "unpleasant incidents like this will discourage others from a life of public service".