Oliver Steadman, a 29-year-old former Labour councillor from Islington, faces one count of blackmail and five charges of improper use of a public electronic communications network. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated flirty messages and explicit images targeting several MPs and Westminster officials.
Connection to MP William Wragg
William Wragg, former Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, lost the party whip in April 2024 and later resigned from Parliament. He admitted sharing contact details of fellow politicians with a man he met on the Grindr dating app. Authorities claim Steadman was that individual.
Between February 1 and March 31, 2024, Steadman allegedly demanded phone numbers for up to 12 people from Wragg through menacing electronic messages.
Court Proceedings and Charges
Steadman, previously employed by the mental health charity Mind, entered no pleas to accusations of sending menacing messages to Wragg and indecent images to others, including Ben Everitt, ex-Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North; Luke Evans, former Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth; Ross Thomson, Tory MP for Aberdeen South from 2017 to 2019; and Ben Proctor.
Judge Tony Baumgartner postponed the case for a three-week trial set to begin on October 4, 2027. Steadman remains on unconditional bail, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for October 12, 2026.
