Denis Crawford, 74, told he is 'danger' to MP Terry Jermy

Denis Crawford, who uses a walking stick, was blocked from attending an appointment with Terry Jermy, the Labour MP for South West Norfolk, who he wanted to ask about local dental care provision.

The pair have known each other for 15 years and Mr Crawford, who is a UKIP member, believed they were on good terms despite their political differences.

He succeeded Mr Jermy as Thetford mayor and has even attended a birthday party for the new MP and been given lifts by him in his car.

But when he went to the Charles Burrell Centre on Tuesday, where Mr Jermy was holding his first drop-in constituency surgery in the town, this seemed to count for little.

Officials barred him from going in and, after consulting with Mr Jermy's team, told him he would not be allowed in because he was considered a "personal and physical threat".

Former Thetford mayor Denis Crawford (Image: Sonya Duncan) Mr Crawford: "We've worked side by side for many years, he's given me lifts, I've been to his birthday party. We always kept things amicable and I thought we were still on good terms."

The officials told him he was banned because he had been filmed at a meeting of Thetford Council Watch, a group who have been accused of disrupting meetings of Thetford Town Council, of which Mr Jermy is a member. 

Mr Crawford said: "I only wanted to ask him about dental care provision in the region after having been turned away by 52 practices.

"I am not a member of Thetford Council Watch and have only attended three of their meetings."

He added:  "I've never threatened anyone in all my years. I walk with a cane and Terry is a young man. I don't understand how I can be considered a danger to him.

"If I was a ranting, raving lunatic I would understand. But he shouldn't be allowed to blacken my reputation without cause.

"This has ended a good friendship because he's made things personal now."

Former Thetford mayor Denis Crawford (Image: Sonya Duncan) THE INCIDENT

Mr Jermy and Mr Crawford are both on the board of directors at the Charles Burrell Centre and the former councillor knows the staff there.

As he arrived, having spent £15 on a taxi, he was approached by Karen Stone, the chief executive of the centre.

The Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford (Image: Denise Bradley) He said: "Karen pulled me aside and showed me a video of the Thetford Council Watch meeting. She told me she didn't want the centre to be pulled into disrepute because of my association with them. I thought it was odd but I understood where they were coming from.

"She then went inside to talk to Terry's team. I was then pulled aside again and she said I couldn't see Terry because I'm considered to be a personal and physical threat to him. I've never threatened him or anyone in all my years.

"I walked out, picked up my coat and library book and left."

UNLIKELY FRIENDS

Mr Crawford has previously represented UKIP on Norfolk County, Breckland and Thetford Town councils, and worked alongside Mr Jermy in these roles. 

Happier days: Denis Crawford, left, with fellow Thetford Town councillors Brenda Canham and Terry Jermy (Image: Archant) The former mayor of Thetford made headlines in 2016 after being so busy attending various meetings during a hectic two-day schedule that his concerned family reported him missing to police.

Mr Crawford on the front page of the Eastern Daily Press (Image: Jake Shannon) Mr Crawford said that despite their political differences, he considered Mr Jermy to be a friend.

Happier days: fellow councillors Sylvia Armes, Terry Jermy, Mike Brindle and Denis Crawford in 2014 (Image: Sonya Duncan) THETFORD COUNCIL WATCH

It seems to be Thetford Council Watch which has got in the way of that friendship.

The group, previously known as the Thetford Sovereign Council and before that the Thomas Paine Independents - after the town's most famous son whose writings influenced the American Revolution and the Enlightenment - have been accused of being a disruptive force.

A meeting of Thetford Council Watch (Image: LSB Film Productions) Its members attend town council meetings and raise topics from the floor on topics such as climate change, sex education in schools, transgender issues and the use of vaccines.

They say they are holding authority to account in the name of "freedom and common sense", and go to the meetings to express their views and scrutinise councillors, often targeting Mr Jermy - who still sits on the parish council despite his recent election as MP. 

The council hired a private security team to "safeguard councillors" after the group disrupted a series of meetings, with police officers called in to restore order. 

The Guildhall, where meetings of Thetford Town Council are held (Image: Sonya Duncan) Mr Crawford has attended three gatherings of the group, where they discuss the activities of the council, but stressed that he is not a member and instead aims to offer guidance as they can sometimes be "too belligerent" when raising their concerns. 

INVITATION OFFERED

Terry Jermy outside the Charles Burrell Centre (Image: Owen Sennitt) Mr Jermy said: "Mr Crawford did not approach or speak to any member of my team at our surgery on Tuesday.

"I’m very happy to speak to him about any issue and would encourage him to make an appointment.

"We’ve already delivered numerous surgeries over the past few months, helping dozens of local residents."

The Charles Burrell Centre has been approached for comment.