A MAN who ‘had a vendetta’ against his local MP has been handed a prison sentence for breaking the conditions of a restraining order.

CCTV images captured the moments that Juan Clegg, 35, of Vernon Street in Wrexham, breached a restraining order imposed against him stating he must not approach people going to the constituency office of Wrexham’s Labour MP Ian Lucas – including the MP himself and the office staff.

The hearing at Mold Crown Court was told by prosecutor Matthew Curtis that on August 28 Clegg confronted David Triggs, the MP’s communications manager, outside the Rhosddu Road office with verbal abuse and physical threats which culminated in Clegg spitting at him.

The Leader:

CCTV of the moment Juan Clegg walks down the road and spits at victim David Triggs, before gesticulating towards him, below. Pictures: Crown Prosecution Service

The court heard these threats included “you work for him, don’t you?” several times as well as “tell him he is not getting any money from me!” whilst pointing towards the constituency office.

Mr Triggs felt intimidated by these threats and made his way into the office building for safety – but was followed by Clegg who exclaimed “I’ll have you” and “I’ll kill you” before spitting in the direction of Mr Triggs.

After this altercation, Clegg launched a verbal attack towards Mrs Norah Lucas, the MP’s wife and office manager, who had arrived at the site with her husband.

The Leader:

Mrs Lucas had recognised Clegg ahead of this and told her husband to remain in their vehicle during this incident.

Clegg shouted at her “You’re just as bad as him” and “You look a f***ing disgrace, you cow” before he backed away and left the area.

Office staff then reported this to North Wales Police and Clegg was arrested by officers at Wrexham Police Station after presenting himself there later that day.

The Leader:

Juan Clegg continues to shout at Mr Triggs and Mrs Norah Lucas. Picture: Crown Prosecution Service

In police interviews, Clegg said that that he could tell Mr Triggs was ‘scared and intimidated’ by what he did towards to him but claims that he felt he had a right to address Mr Triggs in this way ‘because of his work in politics’.

He admitted to spitting but claims he spat towards the ground and not at Mr Triggs. He also admitted to be in breach of the restraining order imposed against him.

In a statement read out in court, Mr Triggs said that he felt he had to report what had happened to the police and says that he believes Mr Lucas was targeted simply because he was a politician and that ‘nobody should be made to feel this afraid of coming to work’.

The Leader:

Jailed: Juan Clegg

Alun Williams, defending, said that Clegg had entered a timely guilty plea and had been co-operative with police after handing himself in.

Judge Niclas Parry told Clegg that this case was “extremely worrying” as he handed him a 16-month prison sentence for the breach of the restraining order. No separate penalty was added for the charges of common assault and causing fear or provocation of violence.

He said: “You clearly have a long-standing grudge against your MP. This latest incident is but part of what is nothing other than a vendetta against him and his staff.”