UPDATE: A former Conservative councillor from Glasgow, Phillip Charles, has been accused of stalking a woman over a five-year period. The allegations, which span from October 2020 to April 2025, detail a disturbing pattern of behavior that reportedly caused significant fear and alarm.
Charles, aged 52, who previously represented the Baillieston ward from 2017 to 2022, is accused of repeatedly contacting the woman and pressuring her to separate from her husband. Court documents reveal that he not only attempted to communicate with her directly but also harassed her friends and colleagues in a bid to gain information about her.
The charges are extensive. Charles allegedly sent gifts, including bottles of wine, and made several threatening remarks. He is claimed to have contacted the woman’s workplace, leaving her colleagues disturbed and concerned. Further allegations state that he tracked her down to her home, left gifts there, and even obtained her new address through unknown means to send her packages, including an Amazon parcel and an Easter egg via Deliveroo.
This trial is generating significant public interest and concern, particularly regarding the implications of such behavior from a former elected official.
“The conduct described in the charges is alarming and unacceptable,”
stated prosecutor Kirsty Stewart. The defense attorney, Michael Stewart, has entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Charles, describing the allegations as related to his “partner or ex-partner.”
The court proceedings are currently adjourned until March 2025, following a request for additional evidence, including ten screenshots that were not disclosed to the defense. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month, where Charles’ attendance will be excused.
As this case develops, it raises pressing questions about personal safety and the responsibilities of public figures. The community is left to grapple with the unsettling nature of these allegations and their implications on trust in local governance.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds, with potential courtroom revelations that could impact many lives.
