Embattled MP Peter Poulos suspended by Libs for X-rated pic scandal

Besieged MP Peter Poulos has been suspended from the Liberal party and disendorsed as an election candidate, as details of letter containing a fresh allegation of ‘unacceptable intimidation’ against him emerge.

Besieged Upper House MP Peter Poulos will not contest the upcoming NSW election after being suspended from the party for six months for sending explicit images of a party colleague.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed last week that the moderate MP had emailed images of Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston taken from a 1980s Penthouse shoot to a party member ahead of her preselection.

Mr Poulos apologised to Ms Preston for his “regrettable mistake” and later stepped down from his role as parliamentary secretary but the moves failed to quell the public outcry.

On Friday, The Sunday Telegraph also learned of a scathing letter that had been sent to senior party officials from a senior female NSW Liberal figure about her experience with Mr Poulos in the lead-up to a local government preselection in 2016.

Sent to party officials this week, the letter alleged Mr Poulos acted in an intimidatory manner during a car ride on the way to a preselection several years ago.

Peter Poulos cannot run as a Liberal in the NSW election.

The MP has previously apologised for his action.

A source who has sighted the correspondence said the woman alleged she was offered a lift by a fellow party member to a local government preselection being held in Sydney in 2016.

She writes how she sat in the back seat, with Mr Poulos — whom she had never met — driving the black 4WD.

The letter alleges Mr Poulos tried to convince her to support a particular candidate, becoming increasingly aggressive when she said she would await to hear the candidate speeches before making her decision.

In the letter, the woman is understood to use the words to the effect of “unacceptable intimidation”.

She is understood to have written how she was left feeling “extremely anxious” and “shaken” after the conversation, which continued for the duration of the trip.

The party official was unable to be contacted.

Comment was being sought from Mr Poulos.

On Saturday afternoon a party spokesman said NSW Liberal Party state director Chris Stone, in consultation with state president Maria Kovacic, exercised campaign powers to suspend Mr Poulos from the NSW Division for six months.

“The effect of the suspension is that Mr Poulos is disendorsed as a Liberal candidate for the Legislative Council at the coming election,” the spokesman said.

“While Mr Poulos has apologised for his actions to the person concerned and to the community, his conduct fell short of the standard of behaviour expected of members of our Party.”

He said the NSW Liberal part would fill the vacancy on the ticket in line with the requirements of its constitution.

An embattled Mr Perrottet, who on Friday revealed how his close ally and Finance Minister Damien Tudehope had stood down from his roles following a shares scandal, said he was “appalled” after learning of the email Mr Poulos had sent.

“When that situation occurred years ago I was appalled, horrified and disgusted,” he said.

“I’m obviously very close with Robyn Preston, she’s worked for me, we’ve been friends for a very long period of time and I know the distress at that time that caused her.

“I expect the highest standards among my parliamentary colleagues. Peter has apologised, as he should have. He has resigned from his parliamentary secretary position, as he should have. And I expect the NSW Liberal Party to act appropriately.”

The vacancy on the Upper House ticket immediately triggered speculation that retiring Transport Minister David Elliott or dumped Holsworthy candidate Mel Gibbons could be returned.

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