A new Reform UK politician has been apprehended by law enforcement on suspicion of stalking, harassment, public disorder, and assault, following a significant internal dispute at his local council.

Sam Journet was arrested at Basildon council’s headquarters, where three officers detained him on Monday morning over the allegations.

The 31-year-old jeweler entered the Labour-led council in July after a decisive win in a local by-election. This marks his first experience in the arena of local politics.

His arrest coincides with an ongoing inappropriate conduct investigation by the Essex council regarding his alleged harassment of council employees and the spreading of conspiracy theories, actions which resulted in a public rebuke from the area’s highest legal authority, funded by taxpayers.

In a surprising development, it has been reported that restrictions were placed on Journet’s access to staff-only areas within the Basildon Centre prior to his arrest, effectively barring him from sections of the premises occupied by officers.

A source said the measures had been put in place to ‘prioritise staff safety and maintain a secure and respectful working environment’.

This follows claims that Journet often clashed with personal assistants to Basildon’s chief executive officer, persistently requesting to meet the council leader on a daily basis.

Journet is accused of continually ignoring access restrictions to the council’s headquarters. Additionally, it’s alleged he publicly posted a female council officer’s picture, verbally abused another councillor while they were in a restaurant, and showed disregard for rules.

In a meeting last month, a barrister was brought in to address allegations made by Journet of ‘council corruption’ and ‘collusion’ over a local housing development plan.

Speaking at the start of last month’s planning committee meeting, the legal representative told councillors: ‘I have not seen any real evidence to substantiate these allegations in the social media posts and so I have investigated them myself.

‘There is no basis for councillor Journet’s allegations. At best, it is a poorly thought through conspiracy theory.

‘In my analysis, merely putting a disclaimer at the end does not counterbalance the impression given when taken in the round. and indeed is exactly what one would expect someone to do if they had already formed an opinion and wished to duck their legal obligations.’

Journet was given a public dressing down over his allegations against two other council members.

He was told his social media posts ‘demonstrated a clear antipathy towards’ the 146-home Lower Dunton Road development – a project which was given the go-ahead at the end of last month.

The barrister told the council meeting Journet had ‘appeared to have predetermined his decision’ on the project and that officers told him he should ‘consequently withdraw’ from the matter or risk breaching the law on planning applications.

Councillors were warned any decision on the development in which Journet participated was ‘likely to be tainted with bias and was likely to be unlawful’.

At least some of that antipathy appears not to be based on the planning merits of the decision, the lawyer told councillors.

‘Councillor Journet has made repeated posts, public posts in opposition to the development. These public posts misuse and misunderstand planning concepts,’ added the KC during the meeting.

‘They also misstate the role of this committee describing it as a rubber stamp and I would certainly hope and advise you that you should not be acting as a rubber stamp. He also bases his opposition on spurious.’

Journet lashed out in tense scenes afterwards, insisting he was entering the committee with an ‘open mind’.

‘I think I’m going to have my right of reply here,’ he said before being interrupted by the council’s KC lawyer, who said: ‘With the greatest of respect councillor, in the absence of a degree in law I’m not sure you have a right to reply on my advice.’

Insiders have also accused Journet of disrupting a meeting between council officials and the police last Wednesday.

A well-placed source in the council told Daily Mail: ‘It’s extraordinary. In all my career in local politics, I’ve never seen anything like it.

‘He refuses to listen. He has his own rules. He thinks everyone is corrupt.’

Journet was questioned by police on Monday and has since been released on conditional bail. 

A spokesman for Essex Police told Daily Mail ‘The 31-year-old man from the town was arrested at Basildon Council offices on 8 September 8 and questioned on suspicion of stalking and harassment and a public order offence.

‘He was later arrested and questioned on suspicion of common assault.

‘The investigation is focusing on reports made to us by three people.

‘The man has been released on bail until October whilst the investigation continues.’

In a statement, a spokesman for Basildon Council added: ‘Following repeated public disorder in the council offices, harassment of staff and councillors and trespassing into areas of the council they are not permitted to be in, a councillor was this morning arrested by Essex Police officers in the council building and taken into custody.’

Journet was elected as councillor for St Martin’s following a by-election on July 17. He won with 1,057 votes.

His victory was the second by-election win for Nigel Farage’s party in the area in the space of a month, with Sarah Shields, bagging the Wickford Park seat in June.

Speaking after his election success, Journet said: ‘I am incredibly grateful to the fantastic residents of Basildon for choosing me as their representative on Basildon Council. I will work tirelessly for the betterment of its people and the town of Basildon itself.

‘I’m no career politician, I’m a local lad who is passionate about Basildon. From being homeless at 13 to building one of the UK’s top-rated independent jewellers, right here in St Martin’s ward.

‘Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to support me throughout the campaign, allowing us to speak to thousands of residents in the last few weeks.’

A Reform UK spokesman said: ‘We were made aware that one of our councillors was taken into police custody yesterday. They have since been released and no charges have been brought.’

Daily Mail has approached Journet for comment.