FRANKLEY councillor Simon Morrall has been given a one year community order after admitting to harassing his former girlfriend with unwanted phone calls.
Simon Morrall, 34 of Rednal, Birmingham pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment without violence at Birmingham Magistrate’s Court on Monday, January 15. A further charge of stalking, without fear alarm or distress was dismissed.
The relationship between the two was largely held in secret between July 2022 and December 2022, however when the relationship broke down before the end of the year Morrall continued to contact the victim via repeated phone calls.
Morrall, who represented himself in court, received a 12 month community order, including taking part in 15 rehabilitation days and carrying out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He was also ordered to pay a total of £614 in court costs and a surcharge.
A two year restraining order was also made, ordering him not to have any contact, directly or indirectly, with the victim, nor to visit her place of work or home address.
BirminghamLive reported that the court heard how the couple met at a Commonwealth Games community event, exchanged numbers and started a relationship soon after.
The court also heard how the victims mother and sister disapproved of Morrall following an incident at their home, leading the couple to continue their relationship in secret.
In November, the victim believed she may have been pregnant leading Morrall to send chocolates and a card to her home, after she had not informed him of the outcome of the test.
The pair had briefly struck up their relationship again in December however it was short lived and led to Morrall repeatedly contacting the victim for the following three weeks without response.
By December 2022, the victim had made it clear to Morrall that she wanted to move on however he continued to contact her despise the breakdown of the relationship.
According to BirminghamLive’s report, the victim had lost weight, struggled to sleep and feared Morrall would turn up wherever the victim went.
After the initial charges were made against Morrall, he had his whip removed by the Conservative Party and has since been standing as an independent councillor in Frankley, Great Park, following his election in 2018.
Rules around elected councillors with criminal convictions means an elected member is only removed from their seat if their criminal conviction holds a three or more month custodial sentence (including suspended sentences).
The same rules apply if you’re planning to stand as a prospective councillor and your conviction was within the last five years.
