A Liberal Democrat council election candidate sent an explicit picture of himself dressed as a mouse to a Labour rival.

Dean Stone is facing disciplinary action from his party after messaging the image to married mother-of-two Siobhan Strode on Facebook.

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She was contesting the recent by-election in Great Torrignton, Devon, against him when she received the image.

‘I don’t even know what I thought. It is repulsive,’ Mrs Strode, from Umberleigh, Devon, said.


The 32-year-old was on a family camping trip when she was sent the picture after Mr Stone had asked her if there was ‘anything embarrassing’ in her past.



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Siobhan Strode in Torrington, Devon (Picture: SWNS)

She added: ‘I am a nice person and I find it really odd that someone would send such an unsolicited image.

‘I did not in any way encourage him to send me a photograph.’

Mr Strode had also asked for her opinion on the picture but she did not indulge him and instead informed her campaign manager, James Craigie, who contacted the Liberal Democrats.

This prompted an unreserved apology from Mr Stone who admitted it was a ‘breach of acceptable boundaries of social media communication’ and committed to ‘refrain from any future similar communication’.

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Mrs Strode had been prepared to move on from the incident until she saw comments by Stephen Potts, a member of the Torridge and West Devon Liberal Democrat Executive, she found offensive.

He said in an email Mr Stone’s apology had been delayed because he had needed to take ‘senior LGBT+ advice’, which confused her because neither her or Mr Stone were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Mr Craigie said it suggested behaviour such as sending erotic material to strangers is to be expected from LGBT+ people.

Devon and Cornwall police were informed of the incident on Wednesday.

Lib Dem Dean Stone came last in the Great Torrington by-election result that was announced on Friday – polling just 253 votes.

Siobhan Strode also missed out after coming joint fourth, with the top three of the six candidates being elected.

Torridge District Council has also been notified but said it was not a matter for its election team.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: ‘A private Facebook conversation was had between Mr Stone and a fellow candidate. A section of this conversation was clearly highly inappropriate.

‘Mr Stone has now apologised and is subject to ongoing disciplinary proceedings by the Party.’

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