A 58-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being charged with stalking Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his family during a four-month campaign of harassment that saw him turn up at the MP’s home repeatedly.
Inigo Rowland, from Surbiton in south-west London, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday following his arrest on Monday, 6th October. The alleged stalking offences are said to have taken place between June and October this year, targeting the Kingston and Surbiton MP and his family at their home address.
According to court documents, Rowland allegedly turned up at Sir Ed’s residence “unannounced” and on “numerous” occasions during the period in question. The 58-year-old has also been charged with possession of a flick knife, a prohibited weapon under British law.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Rowland was remanded into custody following his court appearance and will next appear at the same court on Tuesday, 14th October. The force had kept the arrest quiet for nearly a week before the charges were made public on Sunday.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated: “Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife. He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 October and was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the same court on Tuesday, 14 October. He was arrested on Monday, 6 October in relation to the offences, which are alleged to have taken place between June and October.”
Sir Ed lives in Surbiton with his wife Emily Gasson, whom he married in 2005, and their two children. The Liberal Democrat leader has a son named John, born in December 2007, who has severe learning and physical disabilities due to an undiagnosed neurological condition, and a daughter named Ellie.
John requires round-the-clock care, which is provided by Sir Ed and Emily alongside external carers. The teenager has severe difficulties with walking and communication, circumstances that have shaped much of Sir Ed’s political advocacy around carers’ rights and NHS investment.
Reports suggest that Sir Ed and his family were forced to contact police after Rowland appeared at both the family home and the MP’s constituency office. Sources close to the family indicated they are “massively relieved” that an arrest has been made, though the ordeal has understandably caused significant distress.
A Liberal Democrats spokesperson declined to provide detailed comment on the ongoing case but emphasised the party leader’s priorities. “We cannot provide any details at this time, Ed’s number one priority is the safety of his family,” the spokesperson said.
The case highlights growing concerns about the safety of MPs and their families, particularly at their home addresses. In recent years, numerous parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have faced threats, harassment and in some cases physical attacks, prompting calls for enhanced security measures.
Sir Ed, who has served as Liberal Democrat leader since 2020, led his party to a historic victory in the 2024 general election, securing 72 seats, the highest number for the Liberal Democrats and the most for any third party since 1923. He retained his Kingston and Surbiton seat, which he has represented since 2017, having previously held it from 1997 to 2015.
The MP served in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government from 2010 to 2015, holding the position of Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2012 to 2015. He lost his seat in the 2015 general election but regained it two years later.
Born on Christmas Day 1965 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Sir Ed experienced personal tragedy early in life, losing both his parents before he turned 16. He was subsequently raised by his grandparents, an experience that has informed his political outlook and his understanding of caring responsibilities.
Sir Ed’s wife Emily is also politically active, serving as Housing Portfolio holder at Kingston Council. She is a former Liberal Democrat candidate who stood for North Dorset in the 2005 general election.
The couple’s experience caring for their disabled son has been central to Sir Ed’s political advocacy. He has campaigned extensively for better support for family carers, arguing that without them, the NHS and social care system would “literally fall apart”. Sir Ed himself was a young carer for his mother before her death, experiences he has shared publicly to highlight the challenges faced by Britain’s unpaid carers.
The Liberal Democrat leader has written a book titled “Why I Care and Why Care Matters”, discussing his family’s experiences and making the case for improved support systems for carers across the United Kingdom.
The stalking charges come at a time when Sir Ed has been leading his party’s efforts in Parliament following their strong performance in the 2024 general election. The Liberal Democrats now form the third-largest party in the House of Commons, giving them significant influence on parliamentary proceedings.
Rowland’s case will return to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where further proceedings are expected. He remains in custody following the magistrates’ decision to remand him, suggesting the court considered him a potential risk if released on bail.
The Metropolitan Police has not released further details about the specific nature of the alleged stalking incidents or the circumstances in which the flick knife was discovered. Such weapons are illegal to possess in public in the United Kingdom under the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
Stalking offences in England and Wales were strengthened in recent years to provide better protection for victims. The offence can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment in the most serious cases, particularly where the stalking involves fear of violence or serious alarm or distress.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the personal security challenges faced by public figures and their families in modern Britain, and the importance of robust legal protections against those who would seek to intimidate or harass them.
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Here’s the image credit:
Image Credit:
Ed Davey — photo by Keith Edkins, taken at the 2018 Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton Centre, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
