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EPA
Voicemails sent to the Labour politician caused her family "great stress and anxiety"
A woman who sent messages to former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner threatening to kill her and her son has been given an 18-month community order and banned from contacting the politician.
Elizabeth Harker, 63, from Luton, admitted sending voicemails to Rayner which were "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character", as well as messages to a woman in Luton.
Sentencing Harker at Westminster Magistrates' Court, judge Briony Clarke said her actions had "a significant impact on the two victims".
The court heard the defendant left four voicemails on the MP's hotline, "all of which were abusive".
They included sexually derogatory slurs, telling Rayner "you don't know what is coming to you", and making further threats to kill her and her son.
The other victim said she had been left feeling anxious after receiving a handwritten note from Harker which included slurs and comments such as "paedo" and "drop dead scrounge".
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Harker was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates' Court
At an earlier hearing, Lewis Green, in mitigation for Harker, said: "She has a long-established and entrenched history of alcohol misuse over the last 30 years.
"She tells me she is still drinking, though not to the extent previously."
The court heard that Harker had expressed remorse for her actions, and had been to both Alcoholics Anonymous and her GP for help.
Sentencing Harker, the judge told her: "These are serious offences. I can see that you understand that.
"It is quite remarkable that at 63 years of age and with no previous convictions, you have behaved in this way and find yourself before the court.
"The messages, the call, the letter – all completely unprovoked, deeply unpleasant and no doubt did have the impact on the victims."
The 18-month community order includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
She was also ordered to carry out a 12-month alcohol treatment programme; sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work; and given five-year restraining orders which ban her from contacting both Rayner and her other victim, directly or indirectly.
