A former member of the Labour party is facing charges related to an alleged scheme targeting Members of Parliament. Oliver Steadman, aged 28, is accused of blackmail for allegedly demanding the contact information of 12 individuals from one target. According to authorities, Steadman sent messages via WhatsApp to five individuals within Westminster circles.
Numerous individuals, including MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties, reported receiving flirtatious messages from someone identifying as “Charlie” or “Abi.” Following the exchange of explicit photos, at least two MPs were said to have reciprocated with similar images.
Steadman is confronting five charges related to communication offenses, as stated by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Malcolm McHaffie, the head of CPS’s Special Crime Division, announced that Steadman is being prosecuted for blackmail and communication offenses involving five victims within political and Westminster environments.
The case stems from an investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police Service, focusing on unsolicited indecent images allegedly distributed through WhatsApp to individuals within political circles between October 2023 and April 2024.
Steadman’s court appearance is scheduled for Monday, November 3, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He stepped down as a Labour councillor in Islington Council, North London, in June of the previous year and is currently under suspension by the party.
Having been arrested in June of last year, Steadman has been on bail since then and is now remanded to appear in court on the specified date. Affected parties are receiving ongoing support and guidance from law enforcement authorities.
