A man, aged 28, was apprehended for allegedly selling the stolen phone of Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff at Downing Street. Scotland Yard detained the man last Wednesday, and he was subsequently released on bail. Authorities clarified that he is not suspected of being involved in the initial theft that occurred on October 20 last year.
The incident of the phone theft raised concerns about potentially losing crucial messages related to Lord Peter Mandelson’s contentious appointment as the US ambassador. In February, Members of Parliament pushed for the Government to disclose numerous files amid uncertainties regarding the extent of knowledge about the peer’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, before assuming the diplomatic post in Washington.
Following the release of the first batch of files earlier this year, it was disclosed that the Prime Minister had been cautioned about the risks associated with appointing Lord Mandelson. The appointment was criticized as “hastily arranged” by the national security adviser, Jonathan Powell.
Notably, a transcript of a 999 call made by Mr. McSweeney last year revealed that he did not initially disclose his role as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff when reporting the theft of his phone. Despite giving chase to the thief, who escaped on a bicycle, Mr. McSweeney did not mention his official position when contacting emergency services.
The Metropolitan Police made an unusual move by releasing the call log in March, countering claims that they were too preoccupied to investigate the phone theft. The log highlighted Mr. McSweeney’s identification of the stolen phone as a government device but did not specify his position in Downing Street or the sensitivity of the phone’s contents.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 28-year-old man on suspicion of handling stolen goods related to the mobile phone theft in Pimlico. The individual was taken into custody on April 29 and subsequently released on bail. It is believed that he received and sold the stolen phone but was not involved in the initial theft, and the phone has not been recovered.