A FORMER Labour councillor appeared in court yesterday charged with blackmail following an investigation into an alleged Westminster honeytrap.

Oliver Steadman, 28, is accused of one count of blackmailing then-senior Conservative MP William Wragg for the contact telephone numbers of up to 12 individuals.

Mr Wragg resigned the party whip in April 2024 after he admitted giving politicians’ phone numbers to a suspected scammer he met on a dating app.

Mr Steadman, of Islington, north London, is also charged with five counts of sending offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages by a public communication network between October 8 2023 to March 31 2024.

Prosecutor Vincent Scully said they are all linked.

Mr Steadman, wearing a dark suit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

He was granted unconditional bail to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 1.