Former Conservative Councillor Admits to Five-Year Stalking Campaign Against Colleague
A former Conservative councillor has pleaded guilty to conducting a distressing five-year stalking campaign against a fellow politician, which culminated in the delivery of a chocolate Easter egg to her home. Phillip Charles, 52, who previously represented the Baillieston ward in Glasgow, tormented the woman after she refused to start a relationship with him, following two intimate encounters at a hotel.
Campaign of Harassment and Unwanted Contact
The court heard that the pair had been intimate on two occasions, but nothing further developed from their time together. After the woman, who was also a councillor at the time, blocked contact with Charles due to feeling overwhelmed by his messages, he escalated his behaviour. In February 2021, she received a card and gift on Valentine's Day, despite having cut off communication.
Over the following months, Charles befriended the woman's work colleagues to inquire about her wellbeing. After she lost her council seat, he took to Twitter, now known as X, to post pictures and a statement praising her as 'the best councillor there ever was.'
Escalation and Disturbing Incidents
The victim later moved house but discovered that Charles had visited her old home with what was described as 'a box of goods' intended for her. He then left a voicemail on her mobile phone threatening to kill himself, prompting her to change her number. Subsequently, the victim's husband received Facebook comments about Charles's previous brief fling with his wife.
On Valentine's Day 2025, the woman received a parcel she believed was from Charles, followed by another package a couple of months later. Fiscal Eilidh Macdonald detailed in court: 'The parcel was an Easter egg. The driver then showed her the sender's details which said that it was from Charles. The woman told the driver to take the item away.'
Police Intervention and Guilty Plea
Initially, the victim contacted a friend who told Charles to stop harassing her, but she received a card the next day stating: 'Hope you got your Easter egg.' This led to police involvement, and Charles was arrested. He pleaded guilty to stalking the victim between October 2020 and April 2025.
Charles, now residing in Govan, Glasgow, had his bail continued by Sheriff Lorraine Glancy, KC, and is scheduled for sentencing next month. The case highlights the severe impact of prolonged harassment and the lengths to which stalkers may go to maintain unwanted contact.
