Key Points
- Lady Emily Davey prayed while sitting on the toilet as constituent Inigo Rowland allegedly tried to enter their South London home.
- Rowland, 58, is charged with stalking Lady Davey by repeatedly visiting their address between June and October 2024.
- He is also charged with harassing Lady Davey without violence during the same period.
- Sir Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton in South West London, was present in court supporting his wife.
- The family includes a 17-year-old son with severe disabilities and an 11-year-old daughter, both living at the home during the incidents.
- Rowland, a former Lib Dem party member, allegedly walked into the porch of their home and shouted at the carers of their son.
- Lady Davey first met Rowland at a public meeting in Surbiton library in early 2024, where he mainly criticised Sir Ed Davey rather than discuss housing issues.
- Rowland was also found in possession of a flick knife when arrested.
- Lady Davey expressed concern for her children and carers and described the emotional distress caused by Rowland’s behaviour.
What happened when Inigo Rowland tried to enter Ed Davey’s South London home?
Lady Emily Davey, wife of Sir Ed Davey, described an alarming incident in court where she found herself praying on the toilet to cope with the distress as Inigo Rowland tried to enter their home. This property, located in South West London within the Kingston and Surbiton constituency, was repeatedly targeted by Rowland, who allegedly attempted to intrude on the family’s privacy multiple times between June 1 and October 1, 2024.
Lady Davey told the court that Rowland walked through their outside door and got into the porch in September, yelling at the carers of their severely disabled son, John. This intrusion understandably caused significant distress, with Lady Davey saying,
“I sat on the loo and started praying. What sort of person am I? Who sits on the loo praying, I was praying to God to get him to go”.
How did Ed Davey respond during the court proceedings?
Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton in South London, attended the hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to support his wife. Due to the sensitive nature of the testimony, Lady Davey gave her evidence behind a screen shielding her from the defendant’s view. The court was informed that their son John, aged 17, who has severe disabilities, was at home with two carers, alongside their 11-year-old daughter.
What were the charges against Rowland, and what is known about his behaviour?
Inigo Rowland faces charges of stalking Lady Davey by repeatedly appearing at their home in South London and harassing her without violence. Additionally, he was arrested with possession of a flick knife. His harassment included attempting to enter the house, persistently asking Lady Davey to “ring someone” for him, and shouting at their son’s carers. Rowland is described as “a very determined gentleman, if he’s got an obsession he will go with it,” by Lady Davey.
Lady Davey recounted that she had difficulty telling Rowland to leave due to her politeness and her husband’s public role, stating,
“Because of my husband’s position, and because of my position, and because I’m too polite, I don’t swear – I can’t just tell him to get lost”.
Where and how did Lady Davey first meet Rowland in South London?
The initial meeting took place on February 6, 2024, at a public meeting in Surbiton library, South London, concerning tenant service charges. Rowland was the sole attendee and focused his complaints on Sir Ed Davey instead of the housing issues at the meeting. Lady Davey tried to explain that her responsibilities were limited to housing and not related to her husband’s political role.
On other occasions, Rowland joined gatherings or approached Lady Davey in the South London area, including making unwelcome comments at a council meeting.
What effect did this situation have on the Davey family?
The ordeal deeply affected Lady Davey and her family, who live quietly in South West London. The presence of vulnerable children and carers at the home heightened concerns for safety and wellbeing. Lady Davey emphasised that her children and carers did not sign up for a political life and should not have to face threats or disturbances as a result of her or her husband’s roles.
Sir Ed Davey and the family feel “immensely relieved” by Rowland’s arrest and charges, with a Lib Dem spokesperson affirming the leader’s top priority is the safety of his family.
