A Northwich man who engaged in a long-running campaign against Cheshire West and Chester Council narrowly escaped jail for breaching an anti-harassment injunction.

Robert Pickthall, 61, of Weaver Road, was accused of bombarding CWaC with thousands of emails including allegations of crime, corruption and misconduct.

He was given a three months’ suspended sentence at Liverpool Civil and Family Court yesterday (Thursday, December 17) due to eight breaches of the injunction, putting him in contempt of court.

Lawyers for the council together with chief executive Steve Robinson and council officer David Finlay plus Cllrs Mike Jones and Helen Weltman , sought the measure to protect themselves and colleagues.

Cheshire West and Chester Council chief executive Steve Robinson and Tory leader Cllr Mike Jones were two of the five claimants named in the action against Robert Pickthall

But the defendant ignored the terms of the injunction that prevented him publishing misconduct allegations against councillors and officers on his website or making contact with them.

Mr Pickthall, who defended himself in court, accepted with the benefit of hindsight he was in breach but had understood he was still at liberty to publish ‘the truth’ on his Bloodhound blogging site.

He denied a claim he sent 1,200 emails to CWaC - with mention of an even higher figure of 4,750 - and wants the council to produce the evidence.

No charges brought after police inquiry

Mr Pickthall highlighted that no criminal charges were brought against him following a three-month Cheshire Police investigation examining claims of harassment.

He said: “I was arrested by five police detectives, one of whom was armed. I was imprisoned, I was interrogated at tremendous length. My home was searched, my computer, everything that they believed I had used to create The Bloodhound publications was confiscated.”

It was back in July that High Court judge Mr Justice Andrew Edis imposed the injunction after concluding Mr Pickthall had intended to cause ‘distress’ through a campaign of ‘abuse’.

He said the defendant’s campaign against CWaC began after a dispute with his landlord in 2010. It continued when he moved to Butchers Stile Playing Field, Davenham, where Mr Pickthall believed unlawful development had taken place.

Liverpool Civil and Family Court

But passing judgment, Mr Justice Edis dismissed Mr Pickthall’s claim his actions were motivated by the intention ‘to expose and prevent crime’.

He wrote: “On the evidence as it stands now, it appears probable to me that he simply wants to cause harm. I consider that it is likely that he is succeeding.

“Elected politicians and public officials must be subject to proper public scrutiny, but this is not unlimited.”

Thursday’s hearing was instigated by CWaC who applied for Mr Pickthall to be sent to prison for breaching the injunction.

Judge Mr Justice Timothy Holroyde concluded: “In my judgement, on each of the eight occasions to which I have referred there was an entirely clear breach of the order.”

Judge questioned over Freemasonry

At the start of the hearing, Mr Pickthall unsuccessfully argued Mr Justice Holroyde should have no involvement in the case on grounds of ‘bias’ based on a previous hearing where he dismissed the defendant's application that CWaC should be required to disclose the 1,200 emails he is alleged to have sent.

The judge dismissed the application, saying: “I deny I am biased against Mr Pickthall. As I told him a moment ago in relation to his attempt to interrogate me as to whether I was a Freemason, all judges are bound by their judicial oath to administer justice impartially."

Mr Justice Holroyde, who understands the defendant is appealing his previous decision, added: "The simple reality is that anybody who finds against Mr Pickthall or makes a decision he doesn’t like is accused of corruption, bias, dishonesty or attempting to pervert the course of justice.”

The Bloodhound website

The defendant, who had taken a suitcase to court, was clearly relieved his prison sentence was suspended.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Pickthall, who walks with a stick and is survivor of nine heart attacks and three strokes, commented: “You wouldn’t want to go to prison at any time of year let alone at Christmas.”

He maintained it was his right to question his local authority, but conceded: “I have to agree, some of the things that I posted in retrospect I shouldn’t have done.”

But asked if he had any regrets about his actions, Mr Pickthall replied ‘none whatsoever’. He intends to close down his Bloodhound website but will continue his campaign to get to bottom of what had taken place at the Butchers Stile Playing Field.

Mr Pickthall is also pursuing a private prosecution against council officer David Finlay over the claims he sent 1,200 emails to the CWaC, which he denies.