Lewisham constituent bombarded MP with "sinister" messages

A LEWISHAM constituent has been jailed for bombarding local MP Ellie Reeves with dozens of “sinister” messages that left her fearing for her safety, a court heard.

In one of the bizarre messages, Tracey Smith, 58, accused Ms Reeves’ sister, the Chancellor, of attacking her in the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park, Lewisham.

Smith, who is a trans woman, also accused Ellie Reeves of being transphobic and wanting to legalise domestic abuse, sexual violence and coercive control.

Smith, of Holdenby Road, Crofton Park, sent Ms Reeves a total of 38 letters, emails and voice messages between July and October last year.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Reeves said: “It started with her telling me I didn’t know the constituency and accusing me of being on holiday.

**Pictured: Tracey Smith has been jailed for 28 weeks**

“Then I was being accused of wanting to legalise domestic abuse, sexual violence and coercive control. She also accused me of being transphobic.

“She also made accusations against my sister. She accused her of attacking her at the Rivoli Ballroom. I had no idea what she was talking about.

“The content of the emails felt out of control and quite sinister. In my head I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that two MPs had been murdered in recent years. I feared for my safety.

“I now have a close protection officer with me when out in the constituency, in no small part due to her harassment of me.”

The Rivoli Ballroom — **PICTURED: Smith claimed Ellie Reeves’ sister, Rachel Reeves, attacked her at the Rivoli Ballroom**

Remarkably, Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Smith managed to obtain a witness summons for Ms Reeves to attend a civil court.

The Lewisham West MP said she initially thought he summons was a “hoax” but later discovered it was real.

In her statement, Ms Reeves explained how Smith had previous warned her she would be “summoning me to court” and pledged that she would “be met with crowds”.

“It felt intimidating,” the MP said.

Ellie Reeves — **PICTURED: Ms Reeves said the campaign of harassment left her fearing for her safety**

After receiving the summons, Ms Reeves went on a weekend away with her children – but the trip was ruined by the stress of the news.

When she returned home she was overcome with emotion and cried in her room, the court heard.

The summons was later set aside after Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, informed the court that Ms Reeves was required in Parliament.

Smith’s solicitor argued that the defendant’s behaviour was down to her disordered thinking and significant mental health difficulties, including PTSD from abuse in her past.

However, Judge Michael Snow rejected this argument.

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He said: “Your behaviour is a direct attack against democracy.

“The only way to resolve the complex issues our society faces is through the democratic process.

“We need good people to become politicians, we need the best brains to become politicians.

“Your behaviour contributes to an atmosphere that discourages people from becoming politicians.”

Judge Snow added that he was shocked Smith had managed to obtain a witness summons for Ms Reeves.

He said: “I’m appalled the civil courts are so poorly organised that they don’t address the issue of whether a witness has material evidence to give and to consider whether the purpose of obtaining a witness summons isn’t in fact to harass the witness.”

Smith, who has previous convictions over contacting other people, was jailed for 26 weeks and handed a restraining order.

Lewisham constituent bombarded MP with “sinister” messages

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