A MAN confronted a worker at the constituency office of the then MP for Rossendale and Darwen Sir Jake Berry.

The constituency worker, aged 20 at the time, was praised by a judge for the way he handled the situation “with a maturity beyond his years.”

Benjamin Nuttall, 39, of Fairfield Avenue, Waterfoot, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour towards John Greenwood.

He was made subject to a community order for 18 months with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said Mr Greenwood had come to the door of the constituency office and had tried to help Nuttall.

“Instead of civil interaction you threatened him with violence,” said District Judge Preston.

“Mr Greenwood should be commended for the patient and respectful way he dealt with you. Even threats of violence were defused by his actions which belied his age which was 20 at the time.”

District Judge Preston said constituency work was vital to our democracy.

“Constituency workers spend most of their time helping people, they do not make government policy. This was a serious incident aggravated by the fact it was committed against a civil servant.”

Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said after asking to speak to Mr Berry Nuttall said he was fed up about all the lying in Parliament.

The aggrieved said he didn’t know what he could do but said Nuttall had done the right thing by coming to his MP.

“The defendant then became hostile,” said Miss Regala. “He threatened to assault Mr Greenwood and Mr Berry and challenged the aggrieved to come outside.

“The aggrieved was shocked that someone could change so quickly. He said there was genuine malice in his voice.”

Nuttall then made comments about the situation between Israel and Iran, switched the conversation to Covid and said it was a hoax and said it was down to Government failings that he had been bullied at school.

David Lawson, defending, said it was accepted the words spoken by his client were very unpleasant.

“It is clear from the pre-sentence report that his intentions were strange to say the least,” said Mr Lawson. “Cannabis use has impacted on his mental health but he understands what he did was wrong.”