Court told of 'cold and calculating' e-mails send by Bishop's Castle pub landlord to mayor

Diane Malley, former clerk of Bishop's Castle Town Council, said when she told Darren Price about her feelings over the e-mail he had sent to Councillor Karen Bavastock, he replied: "I know."

It comes after Ms Bavastock previously told Telford Magistrates Court she had been left "sick to her stomach" by e-mails sent by Price.

Price, the owner of the Boars Head Hotel in Bishop's Castle where the post office is based, has denied two charges of harassment without violence concerning Ms Bavastock and Simon Harris, who is also a member of Bishop's Castle Town Council.

During the second day of the trial yesterday, Ms Malley was asked about one particular e-mail sent to the council by Price.

The e-mail, sent on January 14 last year, suggested that the mayor take part in a sponsored slim as part of a town council effort to raise awareness of obesity.

Ms Malley said: "I thought the e-mail was cool, cold and calculating and when I put that to the defendant he said 'I know'."

Mr Gerry Bermingham, for Price, said that obesity was big news at the time and remains a national problem.

He said: "Mr Price was just asking what the town council should be doing in order to encourage citizens of the town to do something about the problem."

Mr Harris, a former manager of the Dudley Building Society branch in the town, was asked by prosecutor Chris Coughlin, about his relationship with Price.

Mr Harris said: "I knew him and had no problems with him until July 2012, which was when my stepson witnessed an incident outside the Boars Head Hotel. It was after that we received a letter saying we were banned from both the post office and the Boars Head Hotel.

"The relationship with Price then became very difficult. We were reported to Dudley Building Society for having a go at him and his partner, and we were accused of being homophobic.

"Previous to this we would speak to them, went to the post office every day to post items for the building society and had quite a good relationship – but it went downhill from there."

Mr Bermingham questioned Mr Harris about the breakdown in the relationship and the reason for the banning letters being sent.

He said: "I say it actually came a little before the incident in July 2012 and stemmed from an incident with Price's partner and comments being made about his sexuality. That is actually what led to the original letters being sent to you by Price."

The trial continues.