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Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb told the House of Commons there was strong evidence that a business associate of former Welsh Secretary David Jones has been involved in a “vicious and nasty local blog”.

The Conservative MP also raised the possibility of North Wales Police “collusion” as he blasted the blog Thoughts of Oscar, which has now been closed down by local businessman Nigel Roberts.

He said: “Over the years the site has harassed, abused, libelled and generally targeted a series of individuals, businesses, council officials and local councillors. Now, all of this, as would be expected, has been done behind the cloak of anonymity whilst claiming the moral high ground of being the purveyor of free speech.”

Mr Bebb said that when people took their complaints to North Wales Police they were told there was nothing that could be done.

He attacked the lack of action by North Wales police as a significant failure but raised wider concerns.

He said two constituents who had been subject to abuse on the blog, and who represented local businesses, gave him evidence collected by a private investigator from Lewis Legal, a North Wales-based evidence-gathering service.

The investigator had traced pictures and other content to a dwelling in Deganwy and a solicitors’ practice in Trinity Square, Llandudno.

Mr Bebb said three names were identified by the private investigator.

He described how he met with Michael Naughton of Lewis Legal who said he was confident on a scale of 10 out of 10 that Nigel Roberts, a local businessman and Dylan Moore, a solicitor at David Jones solicitors, were involved.

He gave an “eight” to describe how sure he was a third individual was involved.

Mr Bebb added that Mr Naughton told him that within 20 minutes of visiting the premises of Mr Moore and Mr Roberts he received a phone call from North Wales Police asking why he had done so. He was advised that the blog was being monitored and he should leave the matter to the police.

Mr Bebb said “vitriolic” attacks had also been made on Montgomeryshire Conservative MP Glyn Davies and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar had also been targeted.

The MP said the “turning point” came this summer when the site published “libels” that were reported elsewhere about his stance on Israel.

He said he received threatening messages and, with five children at home, contacted North Wales Police to seek advice on what precautions he should take.

Legal action against the anonymous site was impossible, he said, and neither Google nor Twitter were cooperative.

Mr Bebb added that, according to a constituent, in a 2010 court case information appeared on the website that could have prejudiced a trial. The judge sought assurances from North Wales Police that the material would be removed; within two hours these assurances were provided.

The MP asked why if North Wales Police had been able to speak to the website’s authors similar support had not been provided to constituents who had brought concerns about abuse.

He said the force had questions to answer when the speed at which it responded to the visit by the private investigator was taken into account.

Mr Bebb said he would be “distraught” if it was the case that North Wales Police did nothing because the site was given a degree of protection.

He said the “question of collusion” was left “hanging over this entire sordid affair”.

In a last post on the Thoughts of Oscar blog yesterday Nigel Roberts claimed sole responsibility for the site.

He said: "As the blog’s many followers know, the identity of Oscar has been a ‘well kept’ secret. Although criticised, this was essential for the blog to function in the way it has.

"I have always been the sole author of the blog – no-one else has ever been involved in it........ I intend, with immediate effect, to close the blog permanently.

"I would like to thank all my followers for their loyalty over the past years and wish you all the best in the future.

Oscar

(Mr Nigel Roberts)"