Former Labour councillor Oliver Steadman, 29, has pleaded not guilty to a blackmail charge at Southwark Crown Court. The allegation stems from a suspected honeytrap operation targeting figures in Westminster politics.
Court Appearance and Charges
Prosecutors claim Steadman blackmailed then-Conservative MP William Wragg to secure phone numbers of up to 12 individuals. Authorities arrested Steadman in June 2024 following the incident.
Wragg later stepped down as an MP after acknowledging he shared colleagues’ personal contact details with a person he encountered on a dating app.
Trial Timeline and Bail
The court released Steadman on unconditional bail. His full trial is scheduled for October 4, 2027, with a pre-trial hearing set for October 12, 2026.
Steadman entered no pleas on related counts, including sending menacing messages to Wragg and distributing indecent images to Conservative MP Luke Evans, former Conservative MPs Ben Everitt, and Ross Thomson.
Political Fallout
Labour suspended Steadman as a member shortly after learning of his arrest in June 2024. He resigned his councillor role in Islington, north London, one month later.
