Former federal Labor MP Craig Thomson arrested, hit with double apprehended violence orders

Former federal MP Craig Thomson has been charged over ‘email threats’ allegedly sent to his wife, and faces a second AVO.

MP Craig Thomson and his wife Zoe leave the Magistrates Court in Melbourne in 2013.

Former federal MP Craig Thomson has been charged by NSW police after he allegedly sent ­harassing emails to his estranged wife, and faces a further apprehended violence order to protect his mother-in-law after “blocking her in” with his car.

On Friday, police arrested Thomson after receiving reports of “several email threats” the 57-year-old allegedly sent to his ­estranged wife, Zoe Thomson, the mother of his two children.

The Australian can reveal police have also applied for another AVO to protect his mother-in-law after he allegedly followed her on the first weekend of December before allegedly “blocking” her in with his car at the home of his former partner, refusing to let her leave.

“He was trying to find out where the children were on a weekend,” a source close to the investigation claimed.

The Australian understands his mother-in-law, Sarah Bestre, went to the police that afternoon, with police serving the AVO on Thomson later that evening.

It can also be revealed Thomson successfully had another AVO annulled, which was meant to protect his estranged wife, less than three weeks ago.

On November 11, a magistrate made a two-year order banning Thomson from entering his wife’s home and workplace, and from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating his wife or anyone with whom she had a domestic relationship.

Twelve days later, a self-represented Thomson appeared before magistrate Jennifer Price at Gosford Local Court, successfully applying to have the apprehended violence order annulled.

Former Labor politician Craig Thomson leaves Gosford Police Station in November. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

On Friday, the father of three was taken to Gosford police ­station and charged with using a carriage service to menace, ­harass and offend. Mr Thomson was granted strict conditional bail, and banned from approaching or contacting his wife, or going within 200m of where she lives or works.

Police also took out a fresh apprehended violence order prohibiting him from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing and intimidating his wife.

He is also banned from destroying or damaging property or harming any animal she owns.

In November, Thomson was arrested and charged by officers from the Australian Federal Police, accused of being the primary facilitator in a multimillion-dollar visa scam.

Sources close to Thomson said he believed “police have made a mistake” arresting him.

“He’s just very angry and upset about the whole thing and he doesn’t accept anything that’s happened to him,” the source said.

The source also said Thomson “cannot understand” why his wife would want to leave him.

Unrelated to the harassment charges, police will allege in court they discovered evidence Thomson facilitated more than 130 false visa applications over four years, focusing on the food service and regional farm-worker industries.

He was charged with 30 offences, with 20 counts of providing false documents, five counts of asking for or receiving a benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event, two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and two counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

According to the AFP, Thomson gained more than $2m through the alleged dealings.

Mr Thomson said on Sunday he would fight the charges and ­apprehended violence orders.