'Bar row' ex-MP cleared by judge

Helen Clark, of Peterborough, had denied using threatening words

The conviction of a former Labour MP for harassing hotel bar staff has been overturned by a judge.

Helen Clark, who represented Peterborough in Cambridgeshire between 1997 and 2005, was given a conditional discharge by magistrates in March.

The 54-year-old had been convicted of using threatening words and behaviour.

Judge Anthony Bate, at Cambridge Crown Court, overturned the conviction after Mrs Clark appealed, but said her behaviour had been shameful.

Judge Bate said Mrs Clark, a former English teacher, had used "unparliamentary language".

But he said her conduct had not been criminal.

Mrs Clark was convicted after a trial at Peterborough Magistrates' Court where she denied any offence.

She was found not guilty of being drunk and disorderly in a hotel bar and admitted her outburst had been an "expression of anger", not aggression.

The events took place in the Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough, in June 2008.

The judge said he was concerned about how footage of the incident had found its way from a mobile phone to the internet and doubted the reliability of the evidence of bar staff.

Alarm and surprise

The court was told Mrs Clark became angry when a member of staff refused to give her more alcohol.

She had been drinking wine on a Sunday afternoon and "went ballistic" when a Portuguese barmaid would not serve her, magistrates heard during the original case.

Judge Bate, who sat with two magistrates at the appeal, said Mrs Clark was of previous good character.

"The incident was, which Mrs Clark would be the first to acknowledge, shameful and unfortunate," he said.

"She used thoroughly unparliamentary language."

He concluded that Mrs Clark's behaviour would not have caused "real" emotional distress but the language she used may have caused "temporary alarm, surprise and possible upset".

The judge concluded Mrs Clark was therefore not guilty of using threatening words and behaviour and upheld her appeal.