WARNING: Video contains bad language

 

HACKERS hijacked a virtual meeting of Warndon Parish Council, swearing and making bizarre comments.

Shocked councillors attempted to proceed with the meeting for more than 30 minutes on Monday night but were continually interrupted with the shouts, screams and bizarre tales, before the hackers were thrown out to the sound of a ScatMan song.

The disruption began as a man with an Australian accent, named Neville Grant, said in the public speaking section of the meeting: “I’m relatively new to the area, I’ve not got a great deal to say, I’m here for a little mingle to get a feeling for the area.”

Then another man, named Martin Fairfox, said: “I second that, I’m here for a mingle, I don’t know what to say sometimes.”

Then ‘Mr Grant’ swore as he said the councillors were a “lively lot”.

That led Robyn Norfolk, parish council chairman, to warn about bad language.

Martin Fairfox shouted: “Language please, can we keep the language down please. My dog is in the room.”

After further interruptions, Susan Howell, parish clerk, then warned if members of the public continued to speak, they would have to leave the meeting, which led Mr Fairfax to say he was muting himself.

Mr Grant said: “Sorry, you are a lovely bunch, I won’t say another word.”

But as the meeting continued Mr Grant said: “Settle down fellas, settle down,” which led the chairman to give another warning.

Mr Fairfax then said: “Can I speak please? It is very important – a situation to do with me and my wife, and the local area budgeting, it is to do with my current situation. I was divorced from my wife, she kicked me out of my house yesterday. I have had to go camping in the local area.

“There is a shocking lack of facilities. I can’t get running water, there is nowhere for me to hook up my electronics. I was chased by a pack of teenagers, throwing pebbles at me. I want to know if there is anything in the budget for camping?"

The chairman replied there wasn’t, which led to Councillor Lucy Hodgson explaining that if he was homeless, there are resources available.

“She let me back in today, but she kicks me out regularly depending on certain domestic issues to do with toasters, cups of soup,” Mr Fairfax replied.

Mr Grant said: “I’ve got a spare bed if you want to provide the spliffs.”

Cllr Hodgson said: “I’m being serious here.”

Mr Fairfax said: “Now I’m being chased. I don’t know if this is a new thing with millennials or if it's because I have a bright pink tent, or because I listen to rap music.”

After a lengthy discussion, Cllr Hodgson said: “Please contact the city council housing department, go and see them.”

Bizarre comments were also made in the chat option of the meeting including: “Meat pie and a few cans of John Smiths tonight me thinks.”

After a scream was heard, councillor Andrew Cross said he was concerned about the “amount of disruption” in the meeting, with a further warning to members of the public.

Then after another shout of “agreed” from a member of the public, a unanimous decision was taken to eject them from the meeting, with one of them playing Scatman John’s Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop as they left.

The chairman joked that as long as the Worcester News’ reporter listening in on the meeting wasn’t their Scatman, they could now safely proceed.

Later, during a meeting interval, Andrew Cross said: “That was a bit of a first for us. Was it post-Handforth Parish Council jollities going on?”

The chairman joked: “I wouldn’t want to guess, I think we just put it down as one of life’s rich experiences.

“I will have to bring Britney in, whoever Britney is.”