A HOMELESSNESS campaigner is outraged over an email found on a city council account which joked about 'dismembering' him – which he saw after a GDPR request.
Hugo Sugg, who has called for greater help for the homeless since the death of Worcester rough sleeper Cardon Banfield in 2016, believes the email was sent by a council worker or a councillor.
He was handed the email after submitting a subject access request, under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws, but the sender and recipient was redacted.
The email, which was sent on October 18, 2017, stated: "Please note it is a requirement of this advent calendar that actual Hugo body parts are used. Last day of the month is Halloween so it has to fit in with the theme – then the last door we get his head on a plate.”
Mr Sugg said: “I’m disgusted and quite upset how someone sent to or from a Worcester City Council email account that they want my body parts chopped up and put in an advent calendar, with a happy smiley face afterwards.
"Neither myself nor the Hugo’s Earthquake Campaign have wished physical harm on anyone - indeed that’s what we campaign to prevent.
"On this matter however, I hope for a full written apology on behalf of the city council and that the person comes forward and makes themselves known.”
Mr Sugg said he has been painted as a nuisance by the council when all he is trying to do is get better services in memory of the rough sleepers that have died.
The 2017 message was a reply to an email about a Daily Mail article.
Mr Sugg believes it was sent by a council officer - or a councillor - because he did not think such an email would go outside the council.
A city council spokesman said: “The city council has released information as required under the Data Protection Act. We will not be commenting further on this matter.”
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