Clifford Wilby, 63, of east London, has been found guilty of harassing Labour MP Stella Creasy on a Victoria line train on 15 July last year. Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that Wilby blocked Creasy from leaving a carriage, shouted at her about knife crime and her 'failings as a Member of Parliament', and filmed her on his phone before other passengers intervened. Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram convicted Wilby of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Man convicted of harassing Labour MP Stella Creasy on London Underground train
Clifford Wilby, 63, of east London, has been found guilty of harassing Labour MP Stella Creasy on a Victoria line train on 15 July last year. Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that Wilby blocked Creasy from leaving a carriage, shouted at her about knife crime and her 'failings as a Member of Parliament', and filmed her on his phone before other passengers intervened. Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram convicted Wilby of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, told the court she made eye contact with Wilby on the Victoria line train and that he stood up and blocked her from leaving the carriage. She said she was backed against the carriage doors and held her hands out as a gesture to indicate he should stop, and that she was concerned about being in an enclosed space with him.
According to The Guardian, Creasy said Wilby asked 'are you Stella Creasy?' before confirming his own identity. She told the court she was shouting, though acknowledged the Tube is a loud environment. She eventually left the train at Finsbury Park through a different set of doors after, according to BBC News, she believed other passengers had distracted him.
Other passengers intervened during the incident, with one man positioning himself between Creasy and Wilby. A woman also told Wilby his behaviour amounted to harassment and encouraged Creasy to sit next to her, according to BBC News.
The two had previously met during a Zoom call in 2024 in connection with Creasy's work as an MP. According to The Guardian, prosecutor Sarah Madden told the court that meeting was terminated because of Wilby's behaviour. Creasy said that during the online meeting Wilby 'made a series of very serious allegations', became abusive and 'referred to the fact he had been diagnosed as a psychopath'. Wilby denied making the psychopath comment.
Wilby, giving his account according to The Guardian, said he had hoped to continue a conversation about a constituent on the Tube, that Creasy 'became quite agitated' and that he was 'quite shocked by her reaction', leading him to start recording on his phone 'for my safety'. He denied blocking her exit, saying she had initially turned around to speak to him and that he stood up because it was noisy.
According to The Guardian, sentencing was adjourned until 8 September for reports.
Where sources differ
- The Guardian states the incident on the Victoria line occurred in 'July 2025', while BBC News specifies the date as '15 July last year', which in context would be July 2024. The Guardian separately confirms the date as '15 July last year' within the body of its article, creating an inconsistency within The Guardian's own reporting about the year.
- BBC News does not mention Creasy's age, while The Guardian states she is 49 years old.
- The sentencing outcome is not yet established, as it was adjourned to 8 September.
- Details of the specific knife crime concerns Wilby raised with Creasy are not set out in either source.
- The identity or statements of the other passengers who intervened are not reported.
- Wilby's response to the conviction is not reported by either source.
- Whether Wilby has any prior convictions or relevant legal history is not addressed.
- BBC News — original — by BBC News
- The Guardian — by Nadeem Badshah