Pictured: Man who told MP Mike Freer 'I'm coming for you' in series of menacing phone calls - after Tory said he was stepping down over threats for airing pro-Israel views

James Phillips was pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday He made three phone calls to Mr Freer's constituency office 

A mugshot of the man who admitted telling Conservative MP Mike Freer ‘I’m coming for you’ in a series of threatening phone calls was released today.

James Phillips, 46, called Mr Freer’s constituency office in Finchley, north London three times at 4.45pm on January 31 and spoke to a female worker there.

During the first two phone calls, ‘heavy breathing’ could be heard down the line, and on the third, Phillips said: ‘Tell the police I’m coming for you, you c***. Not just Mike Freer, but you as well.’

The phone call was made on the same day that Mr Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, revealed he would be standing down at the next election following a series of death threats he received after expressing pro-Israel views.

Mr Freer, who is a justice minister, said that an unrelated arson attack on his office on Christmas Eve was ‘the last straw’.

Phillips was seen looking furious as he left Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday.

The man who admitted telling Conservative MP Mike Freer ‘I’m coming for you’ in a series of threatening phone calls has been pictured for the first time. James Phillips will be sentenced on March 6

Mr Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, revealed last month he will be standing down at the next election following a series of death threats

James Phillips, 46, was seen looking furious as he left Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday

Phillips was arrested by Met Police officers after Mr Freer’s constituency office reported the ‘threatening and abusive’ phone call.

A charge of ‘malicious communications’ was withdrawn and replaced with a charge of ‘making an indecent, grossly offensive, obscene, or menacing phone call’.

He was also charged with assaulting a police officer.

Appearing today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Phillips pleaded guilty to both offences.

The 46-year-old, who wore a grey sweatshirt, spoke to confirm his name, age, address and plea, before briefly attempting to explain the reasons behind his actions.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring asked for the motivation behind attacking Mike Freer in particular, and Phillips tried to answer but was stopped.

His barrister Ms Patel said: ‘He is not a constituent, but I believe he used to live in Westminster.’

Phillips nodded from the dock.

The judge said Phillips’ ‘position’ would be discussed during sentencing. He added that he believes a custodial sentence is unlikely, but could not be ruled out.

Prosecutor Ms Ahmed said Phillips had a previous conviction of common assault from 2016.

Detailing the case, Prosecutor Adrita Ahmed told the court: ‘On Wednesday 31 January, Mike Freer’s constituency office received three threatening phone calls.

‘The calls were answered by Mrs Pegg, an employee.

‘In the first call, there was heavy breathing, in the second call, there was heavy breathing, and in the third, a man with a London accent said: ‘Tell the police I’m coming for you, you c***. Not just Mike Freer, but you as well.’

James Phillips (pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court), 46, called Mr Freer’s constituency office in Finchley, north London three times at 4:45pm on 31 January

Phillips leaves Westminster Magistrates Court after being bailed for abusive and threatening phone calls to Mr Freer

A separate investigation into an arson attack at the MP’s office on Christmas Eve is ongoing, with a man and a woman charged with arson with intent to endanger life. The two incidents are not linked, police said

Ms Ahmed explained that the Met Police was able to trace the call to Phillips because ‘previous calls had been made from that number’.

Discussing the assault on a police officer, which happened at the police station after Phillips was arrested, Ms Ahmed continued: ‘Mr Phillips leapt off the bench in the cell, put his face through the wicket hole.

‘He then said: ‘How’s it I was homeless for 20 years, how is it I have rats crawling in my home, and they can treat me as a c***, but when I speak to them as a c***, I get arrested?’

‘He then swung his hand with a closed first towards the left shoulder of the police officer, who had to back away.’

Phillips’ barrister Rita Patel told the court Phillips had a history of mental health issues.

‘There is a history of anxiety and depression, and the defendant is clearly living in substandard accommodation which is affecting his physical health,’ she said.

She then applied for a pre-sentence report relating to Phillips’ mental health.

Chief Magistrate Goldspring said: ‘I will order a pre-sentence report so that probation can investigate a number of things, including any mental health issues.’

He then granted conditional bail.

‘I will grant conditional bail for four weeks,’ Chief Magistrate Goldspring said.

‘You must live and sleep at your home address, you must not visit Mike Freer’s constituency or parliamentary office, and you must not enter the London borough of Westminster.’

Detective Superintendent Will Lexton-Jones, from the local policing team in north-west London, said: ‘This incident was first reported to us less than a week ago. Officers carried out urgent enquiries to identify and locate the suspect and detectives have worked tirelessly to secure charges.

‘This conviction demonstrates how seriously we treat threats and abuse towards MPs and other public officials.’

Phillips will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates Court on March 6.

Phillips was arrested by Met Police officers after Mr Freer’s constituency office reported the ‘threatening and abusive’ phone call