Former MP William Wragg describes ‘enormous guilt’ over honeytrap scandal

Former MP William Wragg has admitted feeling “enormous guilt” after realising that he had fallen victim to a scam targeting Westminster politicians.

The 36-year-old resigned the Conservative whip and did not stand in his former constituency of Hazel Grove amid the fallout from the “honeytrap” scandal.

A police investigation suggested that at least 12 men with links to Westminster received unsolicited messages from someone using the aliases “Charlie” and “Abi”.

The fake accounts were allegedly engaged in a sophisticated scam designed to coax MPs and other figures in political circles into sending explicit pictures and other private or sensitive information.

Wragg has previously admitted passing on the phone numbers of some of the victims to ‘Charlie’ after the pair met on the gay dating app Grindr.

Speaking to the BBC, Wragg said he was “lonely” at the time and that Charlie was “an attractive guy”.

Within hours the pair had exchanged naked photos, something which Wragg now admits was unwise.

“But when you’re in the moment it wasn’t a consideration. I know that might sound ridiculous, people think how stupid can you be? But we’re all human,” he said.

Wragg later arranged to meet Charlie in person for a date but was stood up.

Charlie apologised. But the relationship took a more sinister turn when he started asking for the phone numbers of other men who worked in Parliament.

Wragg panicked and handed them over, telling the BBC he was not explicitly blackmailed but that he “certainly felt a threat”.

He also admitted “a sense of wanting to please” the catfisher.

However, when stories began to emerge months later of men being targeted, Wragg told the broadcaster: “My stomach just dropped.

“When I found out some of the things that had been going on, I just felt enormous guilt, enormous remorse.”

After the former Hazel Grove MP handed over the personal information, the catfish had asked Wragg to vouch for its identity with its next potential victims, with the catfish telling its fresh targets he was a former researcher.

Wragg agreed, which is what he feels “the most regret for” as it was “deceitful”.

As the scandal spilled into the national media, Wragg said he began to have panic attacks and fled to his parents’ house where there were photographers camped outside.

His mother drove him to the local accident and emergency department where Wragg told the receptionist “I’m suicidal”.

Shortly after receiving medical attention, he returned to Westminster to resign as Conservative whip and from his posts on two parliamentary committees.

He had already announced he would not run in the next general election.

Asked by BBC reporter Joe Pike how he feels, seven months on from the scandal that ended his career in politics, Wragg said: “I have no bitterness or anger left in me because I felt so wretched and awful in myself.”

He added: “It’s a source of great shame that my time in Parliament ended in this way.”

However, one former MP who believes his number was passed on by Wragg told the BBC: “None of us to my recollection have ever received an apology from Will… It might be an idea for him to apologise to those he dropped in the dirt.”

On his final day as an MP, Wragg said he had a consult with a psychologist, which he thought to be a fitting end for his nine-year tenure at Commons.

He then added a grim truth about the pressures of life within the walls of Westminster: “They have two mental health beds available at any one time for members of Parliament,” he said.

“It’s surprising how often they’re occupied.”

In June, a member of the Labour Party aged in his mid-20s was arrested in Islington, north London, on suspicion of harassment and offences under the Online Safety Act.

He has since been released on bail.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email [email protected].