Russell Tillson uses confidential information in Wimble’s Looker magazine and places lives in danger.

Updated – Thursday 17.3.22 @ 08:12am.

On Wednesday 9 February, 2022, St Mary’s in the Marsh Parish Cllr, Russell Tillson, wrote the front page story in The Looker, owned by David Wimble, according to Companies House – titled:

Cllr Tillson used private information, gained in his capacity as a Cllr, and ran it as a ‘scoop’ in Wimble’s rag.

In running the story, Cllr Tillson placed the names of individuals into the public domain, when he was aware that St. Mary-in-the-Marsh parish council had expressed its concern to Kent Police and Folkestone and Hythe District Council in December 2021.

By placing the names of the individuals into the public domain, Cllr Tillson, and The Looker, endangered the safety of the named individuals given there was a full ongoing investigation into the matter. Plus it was a significant breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR, as they – The Looker and Tillson used privileged information.

Remember, The Looker holds peoples bank account details, addresses, names, emails and phone numbers, for the paid advertising, meaning it, The Looker, is a data controller, so is subject to The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), and UK GDPR.  The journalistic exemption; which the Looker could claim, if it was not advertising, does not apply to Mr Wimble, as the sole owner – according to Companies House, as he is processing personal data in relation to advertising.

David Wimble, as the owner of The Looker, according to Companies House, is NOT on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Data protection public register,  when he should be.

On the 23rd Feb 2022, Cllr David Wimble, Cabinet Member for the District Economy and New Romney Town Cllr, and the owner of The Looker, in Report Number A/21/24 was given the duties of ‘communications and public relations’ [for the District]  added to his portfolio by Cllr David Monk (Con) – Leader of FHDC.

On Thursday 3 March, 2022, in the minutes of St Mary’s in the Marsh Parish Council it states:

COMPLAINT:

A complaint has been made regarding breach of data protection protocols following an article in The Looker. The parish council did not place an article, and an enquiry has been undertaken. The matter addressed at item 12 on the agenda. Public to be excluded.

and goes onto say:

COMPLAINT: Exclusion of public.

Chairman has conducted a review on the matter and sent a report to the ICO. Ongoing.

In the latest edition of The Looker, 9th March, 2022, Issue 295 (pg 4), St Mary’s in the Marsh Parish Council placed an advert. It states:

Given The Looker used information given to them in a private capacity – ie Tillson used information he knew as a Cllr, and so was privileged info, then used this in his capacity as author of the article, breaches UK GDPR and the DPA 2018. We understand Cllr Tillson and District Cllr Patricia Rolfe (Con), visited the site together. By publishing the names of the individuals who had flagged their concerns has more likely than not placed them in harms way. They have the right to bring a data protection breach claim against, The Looker and its owner David Wimble, according to Companies House, and we would strongly encourage them to bring one. There is legal aid available [dependent on financial circumstances] and No Win No Fee Agreements Available.

We doubt if Amandeep Khroud (pictured) – Monitoring Officer of Folkestone & Hythe District Council will  conduct any investigation  into Mr Wimble’s behaviour.

One possible response by her could be, Wimble as editor and owner of The Looker was acting in this capacity, rather than as a Cllr, which though technically true, he has brought the council and his position into disrepute.

. We would be surprised if she took any measures against him.

Let’s not forget David Wimble has form when it comes to publishing false information in The Looker, solely owned by him, according to Companies House.

Given that he is the Cabinet Member for the district responsible for ‘communications and public relations’ let’s hope the Council Comms Team can keep a firm grip on his reins when it comes to authorizing press releases – we wouldn’t want ‘More Fake News??, Nor more apologies as The Herald piece shows below.

Let’s hope the ICO take appropriate action against The Looker, its owner David Wimble, and the writer of the article Russell Tillson, and hand down a substantial & suitable punishment sooner rather than later.

Update –

We acknowledge David Wimble’s text to our public face on Thursday 17.3.22 referring to this article.

We note Wimble’s threat of legal action, and any possible damages he might, as the owner of The Looker, according to Companies House, will be governed by the nature of our reply and would therefore be grateful if he would inform us – The Shepway Vox TEAM – what his attitude to damages would be, were he to learn that the nature of our reply is as follows: f*ck off.

Hat Tip Private Eye Magazine

The Shepway Vox Team

Dissent is NOT Crime