11th February 2026
Questions have been raised about how a copy of a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) bail notice relating to a 2009 Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) case came into the possession of the then Leader of Stockport Council.
The case concerned Mr Parnell, who was charged in July 2009 with breaching an ASBO by entering Stockport Town Hall on two occasions. Court records show he appeared at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2009 and was initially remanded in custody after reportedly indicating he would not comply with bail conditions. He later pleaded not guilty and elected trial at the Crown Court. Magistrates subsequently granted bail with conditions, including an exclusion zone preventing him from coming within one mile of the Town Hall, except for court appearances or solicitor-arranged appointments.
An email from the then Liberal Democrat Council Leader, now Lord Goddard of Stockport, circulated at the time stated: “I have attached the actual bail notice,” referring to what appears to have been a CPS copy of the document outlining the bail conditions.
The existence of that attachment has prompted questions about how the document was obtained and whether its circulation followed standard information-sharing procedures.
How Are Bail Notices Normally Distributed?
Bail notices are court documents typically issued to:
- The defendant
- The defendant’s legal representative
- The court
- The Crown Prosecution Service
- Custody records where applicable
Magistrates’ Court hearings are generally public, and bail conditions are often read aloud in open court. However, copies of official CPS-marked documents are not ordinarily distributed beyond the parties directly involved in the case.
Possible Explanations
Legal observers note there are several potential lawful routes by which a council leader might have been informed of bail conditions in a case involving Town Hall premises:
- The council may have been involved operationally in enforcing the ASBO.
- Council legal officers may have been notified for safeguarding or security purposes.
- Information may have been shared via police or prosecution liaison channels.
There is no public evidence that any unlawful disclosure occurred. At the same time, questions remain about the precise basis on which a CPS copy of the bail notice was circulated outside the immediate court process.
Data Protection Considerations
At the time, personal data handling was governed by the Data Protection Act 1998. Court documents containing personal information would have required a lawful basis for disclosure.
Legal experts note that whether disclosure would have been appropriate would depend on:
- The council’s role in the ASBO proceedings,
- Whether the information was shared for operational security reasons,
- And whether proper authority or consent existed.
Representation Issues
It has also been suggested that an individual seeking to act on Mr Parnell’s behalf was reportedly not recognised as his authorised representative at the time. That has led to further questions about consistency in how information was shared.
No Finding of Wrongdoing
The Romiley Gazette stresses that there is currently no evidence of criminal or regulatory wrongdoing by any individual in relation to the circulation of the bail notice. The matter appears to concern procedural transparency rather than any established breach of law.
The Gazette has invited comment from representatives of Lord Goddard, Stockport Council, and the Crown Prosecution Service regarding historical information-sharing practices in ASBO enforcement cases.
From Dave Goddard
Mon 20/07/2009 17:41
Dear Sheila
Mr. Parnell was charged with breaching the ASBO on 16th and 17th July 2009 by entering the Town Hall. He appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court from custody on 18th July 2009. He was apparently adamant that he would not abide by bail conditions and so was remanded in custody to Forest Bank to appear today.
He did appear today. He pleaded not guilty and elected Crown Court trial. His next appearance is before the Magistrates on 14th September 2009. Today his solicitor applied for bail which was opposed by the CPS. The Magistrates did grant bail. I have attached the actual bail notice. His condition is not to come within 1 mile of the Town Hall. The only exception is when he is appearing in court or by prior written appointment made by his solicitor. There is no exception for attendance at any meeting within that exclusion zone and that was made clear to him. These conditions appear to be unambiguous. It is fair to say that Parnell was less than enthusiastic about these conditions.
Just keeping you in the loop.
Fondest wishes,
Dave,
Ps, Glad you enjoyed the Stepping Hill by-election it makes it all worth it.
