Hunt for 'vandal' who attacked Labour MP Stella Creasy's office and circulated 'malicious' leaflets - as police release CCTV of man

Police are hunting for a vandal who attacked a Labour MP's constituency office and distributed 'malicious leaflets'.

Officers have released a CCTV image of the man who broke into Stella Creasy's office in Walthampstow, northeast London early on Sunday morning.

The vandal is shown in the picture wearing all black, with his hood up and holding a large poster with green writing on it. 

Offensive graffiti calling the Labour Party 'child bombing liars' and accusing it of 'genocide' were seen on a road near the MP's office.

Ms Creasy has issued a warning to the culprits of an 'anti-democratic attack' which saw her office destroyed and 'malicious and false leaflets' circulated this weekend.

The politician, 47, posted pictures of cracked glass windows and doors with several holes in them at her office.

Ms Creasy, who has been the MP for the constituency since 2010 and is currently campaigning to keep her seat on July 4, also said 'malicious and false' leaflets had been handed out since Saturday night's attack.

She wrote on social media on Sunday: 'Message to whoever attacked my office last night.

'You don't intimidate me and you don't belong in the political process. Same as those circulating malicious and false leaflets.

'Police already on this to find you - will press for the strongest penalties for such an anti-democratic attack and I know Walthamstow won't be cowed or influenced by your violence either.'

A Labour spokesman added: 'We completely condemn any intimidation tactics towards candidates of any party.

'It is vital to our democracy that parliamentary candidates are able to campaign freely.'

An investigation into the incident has been launched by the Metropolitan Police, who say the attack has not been recorded as a hate crime.  

Detective Superintendent Dion Brown, one of the senior officers responsible for policing the area, said: 'It is entirely unacceptable for the office of one of London's prospective parliamentary candidates to be targeted in this way.

'An urgent investigation is under way, and officers have attended the scene and are already following up active lines of enquiry, which will include full analysis of all available CCTV footage.

'The incident is believed to have occurred between 03:10hrs and 03:30hrs on Sunday, 23 June. I urge any witnesses or anyone with information to contact police and share what they know. 

'Anyone who witnessed the damage being caused, or who has other information, should call police on 101 with the reference 2621/23jun.

'Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, 100% anonymously, on 0800 555 11.' 

Ms Creasy previously served as a frontbencher in Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet and was a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, claiming the party was 'running on empty' with him at the helm.

In 2013, Ms Creasy supported feminist author Caroline Criado Perez in her campaign for the Bank of England to put a woman on the £10 note, and received numerous rape threats and other misogynistic messages on her Twitter timeline as a result.

She was forced to endure a social services investigation last year after an online troll thought he was 'entitled' to the view that her children should be put into care.

The politician was told by police that they would not impose criminal sanctions on her tormentor, who pounded her office with emails because he disagreed with her political views.

Leicestershire Police said the harasser had legitimate right to make a social services referral because he disagreed with Creasy's opinions on misogyny, even though he lacked evidence against the MP.

Ms Creasy's harasser used the alias 'Lance Jones' and carried no personal connection to the politician or her children.

She told The Times that the police's response gave other trolls the 'green light' to target the families of those in the public eye merely because they do not like them.