An Unyielding Silence: Former PCC Candidate Faces Extended Injunction Due to Threatening Conduct

A former Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, Matthew Randolph, aged 54 from Gloucester, has had an injunction extended that prevents him from contacting a local MP, Max Wilkinson, and various council members due to prior threats of violence. The injunction, initially set in July 2022 by Gloucestershire Constabulary, was reaffirmed by Bristol County Court Judge Leslie Blohm KC until March 2027, citing significant risk of harm amidst his conduct.

Randolph’s prohibitions include:

• Contacting Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham.

• Accessing any meetings of Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, or Tewkesbury Borough Council.

• Communication with any staff from these councils, including local Public Sector contacts.

However, he is allowed to submit questions via email regarding council matters.

The circumstances leading to the injunction included an incident in January 2022 at a Gloucester City Council meeting, where Randolph expressed frustration over planning consultations for 5G masts, showing defiance towards the mayor and vowing legal action against the council. Randolph’s attempts to enter politics were evident when he ran as an independent candidate in the PCC election of May 2022, securing 15,240 votes, but finished in fourth place.