Liars, Buggers and Thieves

Labour Councillor Benefit Fraud

2012-01-10T18:10:00.001Z

A key supporter of Tower Hamlets' extremist-linked mayor, Lutfur Rahman, today pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly claiming housing and council tax benefits – the second time she has been convicted of such offences.

Councillor Shelina Akhtar failed to turn up in court at the start of the case today, claiming that she was unwell and unfit to stand trial, but the judge dismissed her claim and issued a warrant for her arrest. When she finally appeared this afternoon, Judge Platt told her: “I make you no promises today. This is the second time you have committed fraud against the state regarding benefits to which you are not entitled. The court needs to know more before deciding on the appropriate sentence.” Akhtar cheated the taxpayer of just over £1100 in benefits. She will be sentenced next month.

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Labour councillor in custody over sex charges

2011-05-26T10:02:00.002+01:00

Mark Burton

A COUNCILLOR has been remanded in custody and suspended by his party after being charged with two sexual offences.
Mark Burton was arrested only days after this month’s council elections and was charged with two offences, one against a child.

Councillor Burton was re-elected to serve the Harrowgate Hill ward on Darlington Borough Council for a second four-year term on May 5.

The 42-year-old Labour councillor was arrested three days later and charged with an offence of sexual assault and a second for sexual touching of a child.

He later appeared in front of magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, where he was remanded in custody until his next hearing on June 15. No pleas have yet been entered.

He has been suspended by his party pending the outcome of the investigation.

New council leader Bill Dixon referred The Northern Echo to the party’s regional group yesterday.

A Labour North spokesman said: “Coun Mark Burton has been placed on an administrative suspension from the Labour Party and Darlington Labour Group pending the outcome of police inquiries. “He is unable to hold any position with, or represent, the Labour Party during his suspension. “It would be inappropriate to comment further until police investigations are complete.”
A spokeswoman at Darlington Borough Council said: “Coun Mark Burton has been charged with two offences of a sexual nature.
“The case is still being investigated by the police and the usual child protection procedures are being followed. "We understand that he is currently remanded in custody. “The councillor has been suspended from the Labour group and has therefore not been put forward for seats on any of the committees. “At this stage, the council does not have powers to take any action to suspend him.”
She added that ward matters in Harrowgate Hill would be dealt with by the two other Labour councillors – John Vasey and Marjory Knowles.

Coun Burton was first elected in 2007 when he polled 706 votes. In this month’s election he topped the polls across the borough with 1,261 votes in a keenly-fought contest.

The councillor, who is a warehouse operator at Glaxo- SmithKline, in Barnard Castle, has a reputation for working hard on behalf of constituents.

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Conservative Councillor - Drunk Driving

2011-04-02T20:08:00.002+01:00

A drunk magistrate who smashed into two cars while almost five times the limit has narrowly been spared jail.

Canterbury city councillor Vince McMahan was handed a three-month suspended sentence and banned from the road for two-and-half-years at a hearing on Monday.

The case was heard 65 miles away at City of Westminster magistrates court in London, after twice being transferred at late notice from courts in Folkestone and Medway.

Dad-of-three McMahan – who has revealed he won’t be standing for re-election – admitted drink driving after a session in the town.

The court heard he crashed into an oncoming Ford Focus in Western Avenue, Herne Bay, before skidding into a parked car belonging to city council officer Lyn McDaid.

The driver of the Ford – a 46-year-old woman from Herne Bay – was unhurt in the smash at 5.15pm on March 8.

McMahan, 50, of Plough Court , Broomfield , was arrested and failed a breathalyser test, giving a reading of 167 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is just 35.

His prison sentence was suspended for 12 months, meaning no action will be taken if he commits no further crimes in the next year. He must also pay £85 costs.

After he was charged, McMahan told the Gazette he had been taking anti-depressants and drinking more due to personal issues.

He added: “I’m absolutely mortified. I’ve never had so much as a point on my licence since 1978. It’s humiliating and embarrassing.”

Before his court appearance, McMahan resigned his role as a magistrate and announced he had asked to be taken off the Tory candidate list for May’s local elections.

Speaking after sentencing he said: “I’m relieved it’s over, but I badly regret it ever happened.

“I can only apologise. I can’t believe I got it so wrong, but I did and I can’t take that back.

“I’ve just got to try and move on now and put it behind me. I’m going to take a bit of time out and catch up with family life, which I’ve neglected a bit.”

Herne Bay Gazette reporters drove more than 100 miles trying to follow McMahan’s case through the court system.

It was first listed to be heard at Folkestone magistrates’ court last Wednesday, but was mysteriously transferred to Medway magistrates to be heard on Monday.

Again the Gazette went along, but despite his name being on the court list, McMahan's case had been transferred to City of Westminster magistrates on an unknown date.

A quick call to the court revealed the case was heard and dealt with that day, with no press in attendance.

McMahan – who used to sit as a magistrate in Sittingbourne and Maidstone – said: “I can only presume they wanted it away from the Kent bench. I was never given a reason.”

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Labour Councillor - Child Pornography

2011-04-02T20:01:00.001+01:00

A PROMINENT election agent has appeared in court charged with possessing more than 10,000 indecent images of children.

Former Rhondda Cynon Taf Labour councillor Steve Carnell, 57, of Trealaw, near Tonypandy, faces a total of 40 separate charges.

They include making and possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme images involving animals.

The indecent images alleged to have been found in Carnell’s possession include over 2,000 at level four and around 150 at level five, the two most severe ratings.

Carnell – who acted as Rhondda MP Chris Bryant’s election agent last year and education minister Leighton Andrews’ agent in 2007 – was remanded in custody at Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court.

The charges date back to 2003.

There was no application for bail on his behalf and District Judge Jill Watkins remanded him in custody until his committal date of May 6.

She said: “I am remanding you in custody for fear of further offences.”

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Labour Councillor John Friary - Paedophilia

2011-02-01T19:35:00.002Z

A Labour councillor with close links to Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell has been arrested on suspicion of grooming an underage girl for sex.

John Friary, 51, was questioned by Scotland Yard's paedophile unit and has been sacked from his position on a council.

He has frequently canvassed at elections with Ms Harman and Ms Jowell who are both members of Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet.

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Conservative Councillors jailed - Ballot Fraud

2010-09-30T16:48:00.001+01:00

FIVE Bradford men, including two former councillors, were jailed today for their parts in a failed postal votes scam aimed at getting a Conservative Party candidate elected in the 2005 general election.
A judge heard that a newspaper investigation and police inquiry unearthed a plot to try to get Tory candidate Haroon Rashid elected in the marginal Bradford West seat using hundreds of fraudulent postal vote applications.

Leeds Crown Court was told detectives examined about 900 suspicious forms - many from people who did not exist or had no idea an application had been made on their behalf.

The plot was foiled before the conspirators had the chance to convert the applications into votes and, in the end, Mr Rashid was defeated by sitting Labour MP Marsha Singh who won with a majority of more than 3,000.

Prosecutors said that if the press had not intervened in May 2005, "the plan may well have been successful".

Today former Bradford city councillor Jamshed Khan, 65, of Russell Street, Bradford; another former councillor Reis Khan, 40, of Whetley Hill, Bradford; Mohammed Sultan, 52, of Toller Lane, Bradford and Mohammed Rafiq, 70, of Cecil Avenue, Bradford, were each jailed for 21 months for their part in the conspiracy.

All four denied a charge of conspiring to defraud the electoral registration officer of Bradford City Council but were found guilty at a trial earlier this year.

Another defendant, Alyas Khan, 52, of Hilton Road, Bradford, admitted the offence and was jailed for 11 months.

Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson said: "We welcome the sentences given to the five men involved in the Bradford fraudulent registration case. Electoral fraud is a crime and, rightly, is taken seriously by the police, courts and all those involved in running elections."

The court was told that up to 50 different people were involved in forging the applications although many have not been identified and others have not been brought to court.

Judge Robert Bartfield told the defendants: "To that extent, I can understand if some of you feel you are taking the entire responsibility for what was a much larger enterprise."

The court heard that Rafiq even got his teenage daughter to help him fill out some of the 114 postal vote applications he was found to have forged.

Prosecutor Mark Ainsworth told the judge: "The ultimate goal for these conspiritors was clear.

"This was a well-organised and determined effort to subvert the democratic process in a parliamentary election."

Mr Ainsworth said it was only newspaper coverage and the police investigation which stopped the men turning the applications into votes.

He said: "That, we say, prevented these conspirators from harvesting all the votes that they had lined up.

"If this fraud had not been detected, the plan may well have been successful."

Mr Ainsworth told the court the scam operated in a number of different ways.

Some of it involved registering people to vote who did not exist. In other cases, it involved applying for votes for real people but without their knowledge.

One way this was done was by using multiple-occupation homes controlled by conspirators with communal postal systems.

The judge said part of the plot involved attempting to "harvest" the votes of those "unfamiliar or uninvolved in the British electoral process".

Sentencing the five men, Judge Bartfield told them he had reduced their sentences considerably due to the severe medical conditions each is suffering from and the extreme delay which had been involved in their cases.

The court heard the men were arrested in 2005 and, in the meantime, two trials began but had to be stopped.

The third trial finished in July with the four convictions.

Earlier in the process, the candidate Mr Rashid was acquitted of the charge of conspiracy to defraud on the orders of the judge.

The court heard details about three of the five defendants' connections with the Conservative Party.

As well as the two former Tory councillors, Alyas Khan was an officer with the party. But the two other defendants - Sultan and Rafiq - were not political activists, the judge was told.

Judge Bartfield told the court his understanding was that new postal voting procedures made this kind of fraud much more difficult to carry out.

He said there appeared to be evidence of this if the number of fraud cases linked to the 2005 general election is compared with this year's poll, in which such offences were "rare".

Some of the defendants wiped away tears as they left the dock to begin their prison sentences.

Many members of their families who packed the court were also crying.

The judge adjourned the case to a date to be fixed for questions of costs to be decided. Mr Ainsworth put the cost of prosecuting the case, not including the two aborted trials, at about £65,500.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Election fraud has the potential to undermine confidence in the democratic process.

"Bradford City Council electoral unit raised concerns and a full and lengthy investigation was undertaken by West Yorkshire Police.

"Both Bradford Council and the returning officer work in close liaison with the police in regard to any allegations surrounding elections and together we are committed to ensuring that all elections are conducted fairly and impartially."

Simon Orme, of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service takes electoral fraud very seriously indeed. These offences not only attack democracy, but they also have the potential to undermine the public's perception of, and confidence in, the democratic system in this country.

"Alyas Khan, Mohammed Sultan, Mohammed Rafiq, Reis Khan and Jamshed Khan undertook a well-organised attempt to get 'their man' elected by dishonest means. They used a variety of methods to manipulate the postal voting system in the 2005 Parliamentary election for the West Bradford constituency.

"They failed in that attempt, but that in no way reduces the seriousness of their crimes. Their convictions should serve as a warning that the CPS will robustly prosecute those who attack our democratic system in this way and we are determined that anyone involved in these activities will be brought to justice."

Labour Councillor - Sexual Harrasment

2010-08-15T17:48:00.002+01:00

Gilbert Davidson

A MARRIED city councillor has been arrested over claims he acted inappropriately towards a female colleague.

Gilbert Davidson - who represents Glasgow's North East ward - was charged by police after allegedly leaving a suggestive voicemail on former Lord Provost Liz Cameron's mobile phone.

Glasgow's North East ward - was charged by police after allegedly leaving a suggestive voicemail on former Lord Provost Liz Cameron's mobile phone.

The alleged proposition was said to have been made as the pair campaigned at a by-election in Drumchapel last year.

Davidson was charged with a breach of the peace on Monday. Cameron reported the incident last month.

She went to the police after another female councillor, Ruth Black, went public with claims that Davidson had groped her.

Now he has been kicked out of the Labour Party Now he has been kicked out of the Labour Party while they carry out their own enquiry.

A spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party said: "Councillor Gilbert Davidson has been suspended from the Labour group on Glasgow City Council with immediate effect.

"As a police investigation is now ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Strathclyde Police said: "We can confirm that a 67-year-old man has been arrested and charged with an alleged breach of the peace.

"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

Glasgow City Council too said it would be inappropriate for them to comment.

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Labour Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2010-08-15T17:45:00.001+01:00

A Highland councillor has been charged following an investigation into alleged benefit fraud.

John Holden, who represents the Inverness South ward, was investigated by police, Highland Council and the Department of Work and Pensions in 2008.

The Crown Office confirmed Mr Holden has been charged, but declined to give any further details.

The case against him is due to call at Inverness Sheriff Court next month.

Mr Holden has said he would rigorously defend the case.

The Labour councillor has been suspended from the party's group on the council.

A Scottish Labour spokesman added: "As a police investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further."

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Conservative Councillor - Bigamy

2010-08-05T21:46:00.004+01:00

Councillor Pervez Choudhry, 52, was arrested on Monday and later released on bail.

Choudhry, who was originally elected as a Labour candidate for the Central Ward but later defected to the Tories, is due to appear at Maidenhead Magistrates' Court next Monday.
Peter Dale-Gough, the acting leader of the Conservative group on Slough Borough Council, said Choudhry had told him that he took part in a religious ceremony to his first wife but never went through with the civil ceremony and was therefore not married by law.

His second wife, a GP who was said to be about 10 years his junior, lives and works in Birmingham. He was said to have met her while using an online dating site and married her in Pakistan.

She was thought to have left Choudhury on learning that his previous marriage may not have legally ended.

Choudhry, of Slough, has vowed to clear his name, after agreeing to stand down as the Conservatives' leader.

He said: "I can't comment on the context of the case but I can say without any hesitation that I have done nothing illegal and I'm vigorously going to defend that.We have decided that I am going to step down and retake my responsibilities when I clear my name."

Last summer it was reported that Choudhry had been lucky to escape a suicide bomb attack while on a humanitarian mission in Pakistan.

He told the Local Berkshire newspaper he felt like he had "cheated death" after leaving his flat in Islamabad shortly before a bomb was set off at a building 15 metres away.

He said at the time: "If I had been there a few hours more I hate to think what could have happened. I feel like I've cheated death and am so grateful to my Lord for every day I have."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "A 52-year-old man has been charged with one count of bigamy. He was charged on Monday.

"Pervez Choudhry of Tuns Lane, Slough, has been bailed to appear before Maidenhead Magistrates' Court on the ninth of August."

Slough Borough Council delined to comment, saying it was a "private matter".

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Conservative Councillor - Sex charges

2010-04-13T11:37:00.002+01:00

A Canterbury city councillor has been remanded in custody on serious sex charges against children.

Conservative Martin Fisher, 60, is accused of indecent assault, sexual touching and making and possessing indecent images of children.

The charges relate to two victims under the age of 16 and another aged over 18.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between 1982 and 2010.

Married Fisher, who has represented Tankerton Ward since 1995, was arrested during an early morning raid at his house in Queens Road, Whitstable on Thursday, April 8.

He was questioned at Canterbury police station and remanded in custody after appearing at Dover Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

He withheld his plea and is due to appear in court again on Friday, April 16.

The insurance writer – who is believed to have four grown-up sons – sits on the council’s audit committee and general purposes committee.

He has been suspended by the Conservatives both in Canterbury and nationally.

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Conservative councillor - Electoral Fraud

2010-04-07T10:19:00.001+01:00

A CONSERVATIVE councillor has been suspended and is due in court next month to face allegations of electoral fraud during the May 2008 elections.

The West Midlands Conservative Party confirmed that Palfrey ward Cllr Mohammed Munir was suspended yesterday (Wednesday).

Party press officer Gareth Parry-Jones said: "We understand Cllr Munir has been charged with electoral fraud, so he has been suspended by the Conservative party."

Cllr Munir, aged 57, was first elected to represent the Palfrey Ward in June 2004, but lost his seat to Labour's Mohammad Nazir in 2006.

The Thorpe Road resident stood again for the second Palfrey seat in May 2008 and was successful, securing 134 more votes than Labour candidate Allah Ditta.

West Midlands Police confirmed yesterday that a 57-year-old man had been charged, along with another 30-year-old man.

A Police statement said: "The Director of Public prosecutions has given authorisation for legal proceedings to commence against two men for offences of providing false information to the register of elections and falsely applying for proxy votes. The men aged 57 and 30 years and from Walsall were arrested in January 2009. The investigation relates to irregularities in the May 2008 Walsall Council elections.

"Birmingham Magistrates Court has been informed and legal proceedings have commenced. Both men are scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday, May 21."

Walsall Council Chief Executive Paul Sheehan said: "These matters are still subject to a judicial process and therefore we cannot comment any further."

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Labour Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2010-03-18T06:29:00.001Z

A Bristol city councillor has been convicted of falsely claiming more than £3,500 in benefits.

Simon Crew, who represents Brislington East, was paid a carer's allowance for looking after his sick mother, a court heard.

But after he was elected as a Labour councillor in May 2007 he failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions about his new role, allowances for which pushed his earnings beyond the threshold that entitled him to claim a carer's allowance.

The amount wrongly claimed totalled more than £3,550 between May 28, 2007, and October 12, 2008, North Somerset Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Crew, of Eastwood Road, St Anne's, was convicted of failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefit and ordered to pay £1,400 in fines and costs. He has already paid back the money wrongly claimed.

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Lib Dem Councillor - Fraud

2010-03-14T13:47:00.002Z

STEPHEN Sharp has stood down from public life with immediate effect — five months after being convicted of fraud.
In a letter dated March 3, Mr Sharp resigned as a councillor on New Mills Town Council and High Peak Borough Council.

The trainee train driver has quit the roles because of work commitments.

He said: "I have decided, with great regret, to stand down as the councillor for New Mills West, on both High Peak Borough and New Mills Town Councils, with immediate effect.

"A daily commute to Leeds, and my current work commitments throughout the North West, make it impossible to meet the demands of regular council and attend meetings."

Mr Sharp stood down as the Liberal Democrats' Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the High Peak, before admitting eight counts of fraud and being sentenced to community service last October.

He faced continued calls to leave public life and stand down as a councillor on both authorities.

Now he has, there will be by-elections to fill the roles on the two councils.

These are expected to be held at the same time as the general election, which is believed to take place on May 6.

The posts are being advertised on the notice board at New Mills Town Council.

Mr Sharp explained: "I have waited till near the general election so the by-elections can run concurrently with it, thus saving council tax payers the cost of another election."

He added: "It has been a privilege to serve the electorate of New Mills and High Peak."

Mr Sharp went on to thank colleagues for showing support over the past five years.

Cllr Alistair Stevens was selected as the Liberal Democrats' Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the High Peak in February.

Three weeks ago, he refused to comment about Mr Sharp, when we asked: "Should he stand down from public life?"

Mr Stevens replied: "I'm here to talk about policies. As far as we're concerned, that's history. That's not a real issue."

He added: "I think this has been done to death in the press. We've moved on, they should move on a bit as well."

But since then, the Advertiser received letters from readers who raised questions over the issue.

Mr Stevens did not want to issue a statement, regarding the resignation of Mr Sharp, calling it a personal matter for him.

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Labour Councillor - Drugs and Money Laundering

2010-03-04T05:19:00.003Z

Former Preston Council deputy leader Frank McGrath

Frank McGrath, 59, was convicted of nine counts of concealing criminal funds for Silvano Turchet, 55, who is currently serving 15 years for the importation of Class A drugs.

The ex-Labour councillor, of Belton Hill, Fulwood, laundered more than £300,000 for Turchet, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The money was used to purchase a house in Wrexham, bought for £116,000 in December 2004, a hangar where Turchet stored an aeroplane used to import drugs, and a £17,000 designer watch.

McGrath also transferred £154,000 to an Italian bank account, the court heard.

Turchet pleaded guilty to nine counts of transferring criminal property at the beginning of the trial.

Ian Cruxton, deputy director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), said: ''Frank McGrath made a living on the back of serious organised crime, and anyone who abuses their professional position to prop up criminal activity as he did can expect us to come after them too.''

Andrew Penhale, of the Crown Prosecution Service's Organised Crime Division, said: ''The case illustrates our determination not only to prosecute those criminals engaged directly in organised crime, but also the soft under-belly - those apparently legitimate businesses that facilitate and support organised crime in the background.''

McGrath was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 3 for the crime, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

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Labour Councillor - Child Porn

2010-02-10T11:46:00.002Z

A FORMER Labour Party councillor who was the chairman of a board of primary school governors has appeared in court charged with child pornography offences.

Keith Potts is accused of having 24 indecent pictures of youngsters on his home computer.

"We can confirm the chair of governors has resigned"

The 60-year-old, from Edenfield, West Pelton, Chester-le- Street, appeared at Consett Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He entered no pleas to the 13 counts of making indecent images of children on or before November 12, 2008.

The offences were allegedly carried out while he was the elected representative for the Urpeth ward of Chester-le- Street District Council.

He served as councillor in the area for 26 years, from 1983 to May last year, when the body was abolished and replaced by Durham County Council.

Mr Potts was chairman of the board of school governors at West Pelton Primary School, near Chester-le- Street, but has since resigned.

A spokesperson from Durham County Council said: “We can confirm the chair of governors has resigned as chair and as a member of the governing body.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while court proceedings are continuing.”

His legal representative, Christian Harbinson, made an application for the case to be adjourned for a week.

John Garside, prosecuting, did not oppose the application and said the images were at the lower end of the scale in terms of seriousness.
He said: “There is no information to suggest these offences are in any way connected with the primary school where he was a governor.”

Chairman of the bench Brian Thompson granted the application for the adjournment and gave Mr Potts unconditional bail until Tuesday.

Mr Potts was given the opportunity to comment about the charges he is facing as he left court, but he declined.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “We cannot comment on active court cases.”

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Lib Dem Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2010-01-27T12:47:00.002Z

A London mayor has been suspended from his post after being arrested on suspicion of benefit fraud.

Camden Mayor Omar Faruque Ansari, 55, was led from the north London borough's town hall by police on Monday.

He was questioned at Holborn police station over claims that he was falsely claiming disability benefits.

A council spokesman said the allegations did not relate to Mr Ansari's work at the council. Mr Ansari was released on bail until March.

He joined Camden Council's Liberal Democrats in 2006 and became mayor in May last year.

'Serious investigation'

Council leader Keith Moffitt said Mr Ansari would be suspended from the Liberal Democrat group while a "serious investigation" was carried out.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "Officers assisting the Department for Work and Pensions arrested a 55-year-old man yesterday.

"He was taken into custody at a central London police station and bailed to return to a date in March."

The Camden Council spokesman said he would not comment on "allegations relating to the personal lives of its members".

But he added: "No information would suggest that these allegations are connected to Councillor Ansari's work with the council. "We must also note at this stage that these are merely allegations."

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Conservative Councillor - Sex

2010-01-16T07:28:00.002Z

A Medway councillor has been expelled from his party after being caught kerb crawling.

Cllr Nick Brice, 64, pictured, has been thrown out of the Medway Conservative party after being caught trying to pick up a prostitute in Rochester.

The leader of the party, Cllr Rodney Chambers took the decision to dismiss him this week, after the matter, which happened in November came to light.

Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “The Leader and members of the Conservative Group on Medway Council believes that all elected members should demonstrate and uphold the highest standards in public office and public life.

A serious matter has arisen concerning Cllr Nick Brice’s private conduct outside of the council and as a consequence of this the Conservative Group has taken the decision to expel Cllr Brice from membership of the group with immediate effect.”

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “A 64-year old man from Chatham was arrested on November 2, 2009, on suspicion of kerb crawling in Rochester .

“The man admitted to the offence and was given a conditional caution.”

It is not clear if Cllr Brice will stand down as a councillor altogether or stand as an independent one.

Every effort was made by the Medway Messenger to contact Cllr Brice but he was not available.

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Conservative Councillor - Axed

2010-01-12T16:09:00.002Z

Eddie Wake - Ex Conservative Councillor

A Sunderland city councillor has been expelled from his party after he made offensive comments about rape at a meeting.

Conservative party chiefs said comments by Washington South member Eddie Wake, 56, at the end of a meeting with police, were "totally unacceptable".

Senior party officials expelled him from the Conservative group on Monday.

Mr Wake said he intended to stay on as a councillor and regretted his "lapse of judgement".

At least three councillors reported Mr Wake to his party and to Sunderland Council's standards committee, after he cracked what was described as a "sick joke" at the close of a recent meeting with police about a rape prevention campaign.

The other 21 Conservative councillors on Sunderland City Council feel very let down
Lee Martin, Sunderland Council Tory group leader

On Monday evening Mr Wake appeared before senior Tory party officials and was dismissed from Sunderland's Conservative group.

Group leader Lee Martin said: "When I ask anyone to go out and vote for a Conservative candidate, I've got a minimum expectation, should that person be elected, of how they conduct themselves.

"Eddie Wake has come in well below that standard and as a result is no longer a Conservative councillor.

"We have no sanction to suspend him from council, but there is a complaint in with the standards board and the council can do that if they see fit.

"As soon as the comments were reported to me I brought Eddie in and told him in no uncertain terms that it was unacceptable and what the likely consequences would be.

"The other 21 Conservative councillors on Sunderland City Council feel very let down by Eddie."

Mr Wake said: "I intend to remain as a councillor pending the outcome of a standards committee investigation. "I hope my constituents will judge me on the work I have done for them in the past and not on a single lapse of judgement. "I want to continue to work for the constituents of Washington South."
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Labour Councillor arrested for drugs

2009-12-05T06:51:00.002Z

A WELL-KNOWN councillor and former leader in Sheffield's war on crime has been arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs.
Sheffield councillor Mazher Iqbal, a prominent member of the city council's Labour shadow cabinet, was one of two men arrested in the Handsworth area on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug.

He has been released on police bail while officers carry out further investigations.

As an advisor for community safety before his party lost control of the council last May, Coun Iqbal was responsible for formulating the council's approach to problems with drugs, violence and other crime.

The former chair of the Darnall forum, Coun Iqbal is a well-known figure in Darnall and Attercliffe, particularly among his ward's large Asian population.

He was first elected as a councillor in 2006 with 55 per cent of his ward's vote and is known as a hard-working campaigning councillor.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "Just before midnight on Friday, November 20, two Sheffield men in their 30s were arrested in the Handsworth area of Sheffield, on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.

"Both males are currently on police bail pending further inquiries."

When he was approached by The Star Coun Iqbal declined to comment. Labour group leader Jan Wilson also refused to comment. A spokesman for Yorkshire and the Humber Labour Party said: "As a party we do not comment on ongoing police investigations.

He added: "We would expect any member to assist the police if called upon to do so."

Two years ago Coun Iqbal was one of five men mistakenly arrested on suspicion of robbery while leafleting for Labour MP Clive Betts.

Coun Iqbal said it was a case of mistaken identity, and the commander of South Yorkshire Police later publicly apologised.

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Conservative Councillor - Fraud

2009-11-14T06:58:00.002Z

Former £127,000-a-year deputy mayor Ian Clement takes a break from painting a lavatory block wearing a “community payback” jacket.

The Standard's exclusive pictures show Boris Johnson's former right-hand man for the first time since he was convicted of fraud over his City Hall expenses.

Five months ago Clement, 44, was one of the most powerful political figures in London. He flew around the world helping plan the 2012 Olympics and represented the capital at the 9/11 memorial service in New York.

But in a sharp fall from grace, he is now completing 100 hours of community service and living with a suspended 12-week prison sentence, a 9pm curfew and an electronic tag.

Unemployed, Clement's 27-year political career is over. He is pictured helping refurbish the lavatories and changing rooms at King George's playing fields in Sidcup, Kent.

He spent more than an hour labouring outside with a handful of other offenders on community service, who were taken to the grounds by bus.

A friend today said Clement is “totally destroyed” by the conviction.

Clement, a former Bexley councillor, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation last month after using his City Hall credit card to entertain his girlfriend and another woman. Two other charges were ordered to lie on the court file. He was given a corporate card to cover any “exceptional” expenditure while abroad on City Hall business.

But he used it to pay for two meals with 23-year-old Claire Dowson — for whom he left the mother of his son — and a dinner with PR assistant Joanna Laban. He lied and said he had dined with Tory council leaders. The three meals cost £156.70.

Clement was first suspected of impropriety last November when he started sending cheques to City Hall to cover personal spending he had made on his work credit card. He initially used it to upgrade tickets for himself and a colleague on a flight to the Beijing Olympics. Clement then ignored a series of warnings and continued to use the card for more than £2,300 of personal spending, racking up bills in excess of £7,000.

His spending included £535 of work to his Jaguar and two £100-plus meals at Le Pont De La Tour restaurant at London Bridge, all of which he has since repaid.

When the spending was revealed, the Mayor initially decided his friend had made an error of judgment but, following warnings, demanded his resignation on 22 June. The Greater London Authority referred the matter to the police two days later.

Sentencing Clement, Judge Quentin Purdy said he had “flagrantly and arrogantly” misused taxpayers' money.

He told Clement he had come “very close indeed” to being sent to prison. “You knew full well what you were doing was dishonest and it is your fault and your fault entirely,” the judge said.

Clement, a former postman from Crayford, publicly apologised to Mr Johnson outside Westminster magistrates' court, saying he was “truly sorry”. He admitted he had “let down” taxpayers and colleagues.

Last month Clement's lawyer, Jim Sturman, QC, said his client was “innately a good man” and that “his life is ruined and he has to rebuild it, but he accepts it is his fault”.

A close friend of Clement today said he is completing his punishment without complaint but believes his behaviour was not as bad as some of the expenses claims by MPs that are being investigated.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Disrepute, fraud

2009-11-12T05:27:00.003Z

Some Cabbage and Bertha Joseph

Councillor Bertha Joseph has been suspended as a councillor for six months following a decision last night (13 Oct 09) by Brent Council's Standards Committee.

The committee met to consider allegations of breaches of the Councillor Code of Conduct by Councillor Joseph. The committee found that Councillor Joseph failed to register within 28 days receipt of gifts of cash from two local businesses amounting to £900 and recommended that Councillor Joseph pay the sum of £900 to the current Mayor's charity. The committee also found that Councillor Joseph brought her office into disrepute and used her position as Mayor to gain an advantage for herself by obtaining sponsorship in the context of the Mayor's Charity Ball which she used to buy clothes for her personal use.

The hearing was held in public but Councillor Joseph did not attend.

The effect of the suspension is that Councillor Joseph will not be able to perform council duties until the end of the suspension period. This includes constituency work and any formal business of the council.

Councillor Joseph has a right to apply to the Adjudication Panel for permission to appeal the decision.

Source

Labour Council Leader - Theft

2009-11-10T07:54:00.004Z

Not so smug now Bill Thomas

Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas has quit after being charged by police with theft.

Coun Thomas, aged 69, resigned as council leader today, although he remains a councillor. He was one of the West Midlands’ longest serving council leaders.

Deputy Labour group leader Steve Elking has taken over the task of leading the council.

Details of the alleged offence are unclear, but Sandwell Council chief executive Dr Allison Fraser confirmed that Coun Thomas had decided to stand down.

Dr Fraser said: “The council has been notified that a 69-year-old man has been charged with theft.

“We have been advised by police that this is a personal matter. The council has not been approached by police about their investigation.”

Coun Thomas’s decision to quit was reported to shocked colleagues at a Sandwell cabinet meeting this morning.

Coun Eling said: “Coun Thomas’s resignation is for reasons which are wholly unconnected with the council and his role here.

“For us it is business as usual. We have recently strengthened the leadership team by appointing a third deputy.

“I as leader and councillors Pauline Hinton and Darren Cooper as deputies are available to ensure council business goes ahead smoothly.”

Source

UPDATE 13/11/2009

Former Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas today admitted a charge of theft as he appeared in court.

Magistrates were told three cheques worth a total of £1,300 had been paid out from a NatWest bank account belonging to the 69-year-old to close friend Gareth Hall between April 21 and 24 last year .

Thomas later reported to the bank that he did not know Hall and the cash was reimbursed, but following his arrest Thomas admitted to police he had known Hall for six years.

The Labour councillor and former headteacher, who was arrested last month and resigned immediately as council leader, had originally vowed to fight the charges before pleading guilty today.

He was handed a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay back the £1,300 in compensation and costs of £145.

The court was also told Thomas, of Viking Rise, Rowley Regis, was stepping down from his role as councillor for the Rowley ward.

Gareth Hall, aged 28, also of Viking Rise, pleaded guilty at Sutton Coldfield magistrates today to fraud by false representation. He admitted using Thomas’ credit card nine times without his knowledge as well as writing cheques belonging to Thomas out to himself.

The case against Hall was adjourned until December 4. He was granted bail.

Thomas refused to comment after the case.

Source

Labour Councillor - Assault

2009-11-09T20:42:00.002Z

A CITY councillor has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman in her front garden.

Coun Marcia Watson, of Bilborough ward, has been accused of assaulting Fiona Kirlew, 28, who is the mother of Coun Watson's grandson.

Police arrested Jorael and Shimone Thomas at the same time. The Evening Post understands they are Coun Watson's children and the arrests followed a conversation about Coun Watson's grandchild's comfort blanket.

It is the second arrest of a city councillor to be revealed by the Evening Post this week. The other was Councillor Hassan Ahmed.

The allegations against Coun Watson relate to an incident which took place at about 9.30pm on October 28 outside her home in Nuthall Road.

Ms Kirlew, of Lenton Boulevard, who has known Coun Watson for about 10 years, is understood to have been left with cuts and bruises after the incident. She was treated by paramedics.

Coun Watson has refused to comment.

A police spokesman said: "Two women, aged 47 and 25, and a man aged 22 were arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. All have been granted police bail, pending further inquiries, until December 5."

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council said they were not in a position to comment. i

Source

Conservative Councillor - Sexual Harassment

2009-11-06T16:18:00.003Z

A FORMER Lord Mayor has been suspended after he got drunk at an official ball and made lewd sexual comments to two female colleagues.

Councillor Andy Matchet was hosting the Lord Mayor's Ball in Coventry last year when he approached two women and told one: ''I'd like to f*** you''.

Cllr Matchet — who was wearing his ceremonial gold chains at the time — also talked about having orgasms and boasted about losing his virginity.

The 57-year-old, of Coventry, admits downing wine and cocktails and claims he can only remember ''some aspects'' of the evening.

He said: ''I am an extremely argumentative person. It is the sort of comment I would have made as part of an argument about radical feminism.

"I would have said it argumentatively, not invitationally. "I'd had several glasses of wine and was on medication because of my bad back, including paracetemol, Codeine, Ibuprofen and dodo tablets, an over the counter low level amphetamine."

The outburst came during a conversation between the then Lord Mayor, the council's equality and diversity policy officer Laura Slegg, and a third woman named only as 'Miss X'.

Laura, 27, told the council's standard's committee: ''He asked how old she was and he said how old he was.

"He twice said he'd like to f*** her and twice asked if she'd like to f*** him. The three of us had been talking about orgasms and he told us how old he was when he lost his virginity."

Footnote

Councillor Matchet is a former communist

UPDATE 20 November 2009

Unfortunately, the image posted with this report was of the wrong Mayor and as now been removed. The Green Arrow apologies for misleading his readers and causing distress to the Mayor whose image was used.

Source

Labour Councillor - Sex Assault

2009-11-04T11:02:00.002Z

A LEADING city councillor[Labour] has been arrested on suspicion of assault and sexual assault.

Coun Hassan Ahmed, 58, who is the council's portfolio holder for employment and skills, is accused of assaulting a 47-year-old woman who was a teacher at a college in the Notts area.

The offence is alleged to have occurred late at night in July.

Coun Ahmed has denied the allegation.

A spokesman for Notts Police said: "Nottinghamshire Police arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of committing common assault and sexual assault on July 29.

"The man was released on bail pending further inquiries and the matter is still very much under investigation."

Coun Ahmed took up his position as portfolio holder in May. He has been bailed to report to the police on November 19.

A statement released on Coun Ahmed's behalf yesterday said: "Mr Hassan Ahmed vehemently denies the allegation. Mr Ahmed believes the allegation to be false, without substance nor credibility. Mr Ahmed is fully cooperating with the police investigation."

Nottingham City Council said it was a police matter and declined to comment.

Source

Conservative - Councillor jailed for bribery

2009-09-28T17:37:00.000+01:00

Jeremy Baker had denied taking two bribes totalling £750

A former Portsmouth city councillor has been jailed for a year after being found guilty of accepting a bribe.

Jeremy Baker, 47, from Cosham, was convicted of accepting £500 for making sure a planning decision for a property developer got through.

A secret film of the incident was shown to jurors at Winchester Crown Court during Baker's trial.

He was convicted of a corruption charge but cleared of another. They related to his time on the planning committee.

Estate agent David Maunder made the recording in an agreement with a property developer who felt he was poorly treated by planners, jurors were told.

The developer felt aggrieved about the planning committee's dealings over his three properties in London Road, St Helens Parade and Kingston Parade, the court heard.

On one occasion, Mr Maunder said to Baker, "right I've got a little something for you" before counting £500 out on the table, jurors were told.

Baker, who was cleared of taking a £250 bribe, was jailed for a year on Thursday.

Source

Liberal Democrat - Councillor - Sexual assault

2009-09-21T10:37:00.000+01:00

A FORMER West Lindsey councillor and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate appeared in court on Thursday, to deny a charge of sexual assault.
Dr Adrian Heath, a dentist, is alleged to have touched a woman's breasts during an incident on 13th August last year.

The 43-year-old former councillor entered a not guilty plea during a short hearing at Lincoln Crown Court.

Dr Heath fought the Gainsborough constituency for the Liberal Democrats in the 2005 General Election, polling over 12,000 votes, second to sitting Conservative MP Edward Leigh.

He was also a West Lindsey councillor for Cherry Willingham and Reepham, and worked at the Oasis Dental Care practice in Lincoln, before moving to the Genesis Dental Care practice in Gainsborough in April last year.

Judge Michael Heath agreed to an application for Dr Heath's trial to be moved out of Lincolnshire because he is so well known in the county.

Dr Heath, of Roseberry Avenue, Lincoln, was granted bail on condition that he does not contact the complainant.

Source

UPDATE 21 Sep 2009

A dentist who once ran for Parliament groped three patients while supposedly checking their glands, a court was told yesterday.

Dr Adrian Heath, 43, touched the women in the examination chair at his surgery in a way that had 'no clinical justification', a jury heard.

He allegedly told one of them he needed to compare her breasts and even asked her to remove her trousers after warning: 'This is serious.'

More here

Conservative Councillor - Passport Fraud

2009-09-01T10:25:00.002+01:00

CONTROVERSIAL former Lye councillor Abdul Qadus has been awarded £8,320 after being made redundant from his job in sales without pay.

Abdul, of Brook Road, Oldswinford, who lost his Dudley Council seat back in 2002 after he was convicted and jailed for passport fraud, claimed he was owed wages and left without redundancy pay after losing his job as a regional sales supervisor at Pareto Marketing Ltd due to financial cutbacks.

The former Tory councillor, who tried to make a comeback in last year’s local elections, told a Birmingham Employment Tribunal hearing he had been employed for six years promoting credit cards at the firm.

The company, which has a branch at Wrexham and a head office in Belfast, failed to attend the hearing - at which Mr Qadus made compensation claims for redundancy pay, unpaid wages, notice, holiday pay and expenses.

Tribunal chairman John Crump rejected a claim for paternity pay because it had not been included on the claim form.

But he awarded Mr Qadus £2,292 in unpaid wages, £1,550 notice pay and more than £3,000 redundancy money.

Donna Causer, a former regional sales employee with the firm, also attended the hearing and said she was waiting to make similar claims against the firm.

Abdul did not wish to comment after the hearing.

Source

Labour Councillor investigated after abusive message

2009-09-01T10:06:00.001+01:00

WELSH Labour confirmed last night it was investigating a councillor and brass band chairman in connection with a “foul and abusive” phone message that has been posted on YouTube.

Carmarthen Labour councillor Marc Scaife, who has put his name forward for selection as the party’s parliamentary candidate in Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, left on Wednesday for a controversial tour of Libya with Burry Port Town Band.

The band have been criticised for continuing with the tour – part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi coming to power – after the release last week of the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

In the phone message, a man who identifies himself as Marc Scaife, uses highly offensive language to berate a 19-year-old member of the band who pulled out of the Libyan tour at a late stage, creating a perceived security problem.

The caller is heard saying: “Listen very f****** carefully. You are a f****** idiot...There’s a massive security risk because of you. Do you realise what’s actually going on? Is anything going on in your tiny little mind?

“We are supposed to be playing in front of some of the biggest world leaders out there. Security is 100% tight and it includes the British Royal Family.

“I expect you to sort this f****** thing out. You go up there, you sort it out or expect a call from MI5. All right?

“I’ve had some serious explaining to do because of your irresponsible actions. Call me back as soon as you get this f****** message or I’ll be driving over to your parents’ house tonight to speak to them.

“Wise up, s***head.”

The band member who pulled out of the trip posted the audio tape of the phone call on YouTube. Subsequent messages on the site in the name of Mr Scaife said: “You forgot to tell everybody that you withdrew from the tour on Saturday with just four days to go, leaving us with a gap to fill. Your irresponsibility beggars belief. I’m surprised that you are happy to broadcast this fact.

“I don’t regret losing my temper with you – you deserved it. I stick to my opinions given in the recorded message. I suggest you listen to the actual words used and take note.

“I suspect you are going to get many similar confrontations from others in the future due to your ineptitude. I suggest you abandon your cry-baby ‘I’m just 19’ approach and act like a man – learn to act responsibly!”

The band member responds, saying: “I have not tried to adopt any cry-baby approach. I am merely pointing out that if I as a teenager can try to act in a mature and civilised manner to sort things out, there is something seriously wrong when a man over twice my age resorts to abusive and childlike rants. Indeed displaying your message on YouTube may be considered immature, but I am only trying to make people aware of the vile and foul attitude I have been dealing with.”

Explaining his position in another posting, the band member said: “I had to withdraw from the trip to Libya due to working commitments and the prospect of losing my job, something I was unwilling to risk in the current economic climate.

“I warned Marc Scaife this might be the case over a week ago and confirmed this on Friday. I have acknowledged the inconvenience this could cause and have been most apologetic.”

It is understood that the band member was one of a number of musicians recruited to go to Libya because long-standing members were unavailable.

A Welsh Labour spokesman said: “The party disassociates itself from the foul and abusive language used in this telephone message. We will be contacting Mr Scaife in order to verify the authenticity of the message and to seek an explanation for this situation.

“The matter concerned is not a Welsh Labour event over which the party has any control. This is not the behaviour we would expect of any elected representative of Welsh Labour.”

Mr Scaife had last night not responded to a detailed message left on his mobile phone by the Western Mail.

According to the Burry Port Town Band’s website, Mr Scaife is 41 and plays solo trombone. He has previously played with the Suffolk Fire Service, Colchester, Crwbin and Clacton brass bands. His occupation is listed as “real estate, Bulgaria”, although it is understood that he works as a relief chef.

Source

Lib Dem Councillor banned over misconduct

2009-09-01T10:00:00.002+01:00

A hearing has found the former deputy council leader of Somerset County Council guilty of two counts of breaching codes of conduct.

The two-year investigation looked into dozens of complaints about the behaviour of Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Buchanan.

Mr Buchanan has been disqualified from being a councillor for two years.

The tribunal heard he made written allegations of serious misconduct against chief executive Alan Jones.

'Act of revenge'

On Wednesday the panel ruled Mr Buchanan had "brought the office of [the] member into disrepute" and "used his position as a member to confer a disadvantage on Mr Jones". He was disqualified from local government for two years.

Panel chairman David Laverick said the respondent "was motivated by a desire to cause harm to the chief executive".

Mr Laverick said: "This is a case of revenge rather than intimidation. It was an act of revenge."

Speaking after the tribunal Mr Buchanan said he was "very disappointed" at the overall adjudication panel's findings.

He said: "I'm pleased my case that I clearly didn't seek to intimidate Mr Jones was upheld.

"[But] I'm disappointed the rest of the charges weren't dropped and the panel found, in their view, my making a formal complaint about the chief executive constituted an attempt to cause him a disservice or some harm."

This is a very clear decision and we hope this will end the matter once and for all
Somerset County Council statement

The row had split the council chamber. Mr Buchanan had been thrown out of the Liberal Democrat group, although some members had backed him saying the disciplinary process was "excessive".

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Jim Mochnacz it should not have come to such a conclusion.

He said: "It should have been mediated at a much lower level. It says something about one, if not two of the characters."

In a statement Somerset County Council said: "We are pleased that everyone who wanted to has had the opportunity to make their case to an independent tribunal.

"This is a very clear decision and we hope this will end the matter once and for all. Paul Buchanan chose not to stand for re-election in June and no longer has any connection with Somerset County Council.

"We will not make any further comment until we have seen the full findings from the panel."

Source

Labour Councillor - Escapes Jail???

2009-09-01T09:55:00.001+01:00

A former mayor escaped jail today after being convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Stewart Brown, 60, admitted 21 offences of possessing indecent images of children and one of distributing pictures.

At Leeds Crown Court today he was given a nine-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.

In 2006 he was mayor of Hebden Royd in West Yorkshire and was also a Labour councillor on Calderdale Council, the court heard.

At a hearing in July, Brown, of Nutclough, Hebden Bridge, admitted all the charges, some of which were said to relate to images of girls as young as three.

Source

Labour Councillor - Homophobia

2009-09-01T09:51:00.002+01:00

A FORMER councillor who dialled 999 claiming he was attacked in a wheelclamping row says police refused to respond - then arrested HIM when he called one of them a homosexual.

Noel O'Brien, 58, a former Labour councillor, rang police after going to reclaim his clamped car.

He claims he was assaulted by staff at the compound in Ardwick who hit him on the head with an extendable baton. The claim is denied by bosses at the company, NCP Services.

After he left the pound, Mr O'Brien made a number of calls to police and admits he became frustrated when they did not respond immediately and that he called one police operator `a homosexual'.

Noel O'Brien, from Haslingden, Rossendale, said he made the comment in frustration. He said the person who answered the phone sounded like the late Charles Hawtrey, the actor who played camp characters in the Carry On films.

The police did arrive and officers arrested him on suspicion of a public order offence because of his comment to the police operator.

Mr O'Brien said later: "Unfortunately in my frustration I made an improper remark and when the police did come they arrested me for making an alleged homophobic remark."

A spokesman for Manchester Council - NCP Services acts on their behalf - denied the assault allegation.

He said: "Nobody at the pound had any sort of weapon. We don't condone any sort of violence. No-one who works there would have an extendable cosh." He said it was Mr O'Brien who attacked staff who had to defend themselves by pushing him away - something Mr O'Brien describes as 'ridiculous'.

Tim Cowen, of NCP Services, said: "This was a frightening incident for our staff and we are very grateful for the prompt police response."

Police confirmed they were investigating Mr O'Brien's allegation of assault and also an allegation that he made an homophobic comment.

Mr O'Brien was released on police bail pending further inquiries and is due to return to a police station on January 14.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Sexual Assault

2009-07-30T06:16:00.000+01:00

Councillor Ian Hillas

A SENIOR Midland Conservative councillor was today appearing in court charged with sexual assault.

Coun Ian Hillas, who represents Castle Bromwich ward on Solihull Borough Council, was appearing before Warley Magistrates. He was charged with sexual assault on a woman after being arrested by police.

The 42-year-old, pictured, from Oakwood Croft, Solihull, is a cabinet member for economic development and regeneration and the former deputy leader of Solihull Council.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “I can confirm a 42-year-old man from Solihull was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of sexual assault.

“He is appearing before Warley Magistrates court today charged with sexual assault.”

Coun Hillas works in financial services and is listed as a director of East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone and also for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Partnership.

He was elected on to Solihull Council in June 2004 and is not due for re-election until May 2011.

The councillor plays a major part in the running of services in Solihull including sitting on the panel which appoints the director of children’s services, along with being heavily involved with the Richard Knight Charity, which maintains upkeep of the St Mary and St Margaret Parish Church in Castle Bromwich.

A Solihull Council spokeswoman refused to comment on the arrest and what procedures took place if a councillor was charged with any offences.

Source

UPDATE 30/7/09

A senior Solihull councillor will face trial on a charge of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Coun Ian Hillas, 42, a former deputy leader of Solihull Borough Council, appeared at Warley Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was granted conditional bail. He was committed for trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court and will firstly face a plea and directions hearing on September 1.

Hillas, of Oakwood Croft, Solihull, who represents Castle Bromwich for the Conservatives on Solihull Council, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of a sexual assault in Cradley Heath.

Source

Conservative Councillor raped school girl

2009-06-09T08:30:00.000+01:00

A tory councillor was last night behind bars after being charged with raping and sexually abusing a girl of 13.

Married step-dad David Kirton, 55, was remanded in custody by magistrates after being arrested at the weekend following complaints from the alleged victim.

Police confirmed: "A 55-year-old man has been remanded in custody prior to appearance at crown court.

"He was charged with offences under the Sexual Offences Act, including rape and sexual assault."

Kirton, a councillor in Harlow, Essex, is believed to have recently left the home he shares with his wife Denise, 55, and moved to Stevenage, Herts.

A council spokesman refused to comment and the borough's Tory leader was unavailable last night. Kirton will appear at Chelmsford crown court on October 21.

Source

UPDATE 9 June 2009

A 55-YEAR-OLD former Conservative councillor, who became "infatuated" with a 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her was jailed for eight years today (Monday).

David Kirton, 55, formerly of Longbanks, Harlow, Essex, later of Stevenage, also admitted committing two other sexual offences on the girl during an eight-month period.

Kirton, who won his seat in the Staple Tye ward at the local elections in May last year but has since been suspended, sent texts and spoke to her on MSN telling her among other things: "Babe - you're a gorgeous woman."

Fully Story and Source

Labour Councillor - Violence

2009-05-23T08:05:00.002+01:00

Noel O'Brien

A FORMER Labour councillor is facing jail for assaulting a young woman traffic warden.

Noel O'Brien shoved Joanne Subocz and threw her hat on the road after she caught him parking illegally in Manchester city centre.

O'Brien, 58, shouted a torrent of racist abuse at Polish-born Miss Subocz , telling her 'go back to your own country, we don't want you here'.

Miss Subocz said the incident left her shocked and for weeks she was afraid to go back on the streets.

District judge Paul Richardson, sitting at Manchester magistrates' court, convicted O'Brien of racially aggravated assault and bailed him for reports.

He told O'Brien: "This was an unpleasant piece of behaviour on a woman from another country doing her public duty. She was assaulted and bullied in a nasty fashion.

"If I don't get a favourable report on you I will have no option but to impose a custodial sentence."

Quote - "It left me shaking, it was a horrible experience."
Joanne Subocz

Miss Subocz said O'Brien, a former councillor in Haslingden, Rossendale, swore and pushed her after he parked on a suspended bay in St Mary's Parsonage last January.

She said: "It left me shaking, it was a horrible experience."

Four witnesses told how O'Brien rounded on the warden and screamed abuse. Jennifer Lynch said he was agitated and aggressive.

"He charged towards her like a bull," she said.

O'Brien, of Mercer Crescent, Haslingden, had denied the charge but didn't give evidence in his defence. He refused to recognise the court after the judge said he could not cross-examine civilian witnesses.

A previous bench appointed a lawyer on O'Brien's behalf to test the evidence, avoid unnecessary distress to witnesses and ensure the trial ran efficiently.

O'Brien accused the judge of denying him his civil right. He said: "I'm taking no further part in the proceedings. This is a joke - it's a pantomime."

Source

Lib Dem Councillor Jailed

2009-05-05T22:16:00.000+01:00

A councillor is potentially facing political ruin after he was sacked by his party following an arrest for fraud.

Cllr Vijay Shah, Wembley Central ward, was arrested at his home in Clayton Avenue, Wembley, on March 8 by officers from Hertfordshire Police.

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "A 44-year-old man from Wembley has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

"He was arrested on March 8 by officers from Hertfordshire Police. He has been bailed by Police until 10 of September, to return to Watford Police Station."

The Times understands that Mr Shah was suspended by the Liberal Democrat party on Saturday May 11 by party leader Paul Lorber.

For full story see this week's Times

UPDATE OCT 22 08

A Brent Councillor has been charged with fraud after a seven month police investigation.

Councillor Vijay Shah was arrsted in March this year in relation to his role as an accountant at EJ Masters delivery company, in Kings Langley, Herfordshire.

He was charged with fraud by Hertfordshire Police on Monday, and has been bailed to appear at West Herts Magistrates Court on November 7.

Mr Shah, of Clayton Avenue, Wembley, sits as an independent councillor after being thrown out of the Liberal Democrat Party shortly after his arrest.

Source

UPDATE 13 May

A former Liberal Democrat councillor has been jailed for 12 months for stealing £55,000 from the company in Hertfordshire that employed him.

Vijay Shah, of Clayton Avenue, Wembley, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud at delivery company EJ Masters.

Shah, 45, continued to sit as an Independent for Wembley Central on Brent Council after his arrest, St Albans Crown Court was told.

His deception was uncovered when he lost his job over another matter.

Shah gave a false reference to a woman from India who had applied for a job, the court heard.

A new accountant was hired and Shah's fraud was discovered.

Sophisticated fraud

Sentencing him, Judge Simon Carr said: "Responsibility comes with public office.

"Those who take public office have incurred a responsibility to ensure they are above reproach. You singularly failed to do this."

SOURCE

UKIP MEP - Fraud

2009-04-21T09:32:00.001+01:00

Tom Wise

A British Euro MP was last night charged with fiddling thousands of pounds of taxpayer-funded expenses.

Former UKIP politician Tom Wise is accused of false accounting and money laundering following accusations that he fiddled his generous Brussels staff allowances.

He is thought to be the first MEP to face criminal charges over the use of Parliamentary perks.

Wise, 60, a former policeman, was arrested in June last year after it was revealed that he had allegedly siphoned off nearly £40,000 of public money by claiming it was for a researcher’s salary.

Detectives investigated after it was claimed Wise only passed on some of the cash and banked the rest. He allegedly spent £6,500 on a Peugeot 406.

He was alleged to have pretended that his own bank account was that of his then researcher Lindsay Jenkins which is against EU rules.

He is alleged to have channelled £39,100 into it, from which he paid Jenkins £13,555.

Jenkins, 62, was also charged with one count of false accounting and one count of money laundering.

Wise and Jenkins were jointly charged following a nine-month police probe. They pair were released on bail and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court next Monday.

The £62,000-a-year MEP faces a maximum 14 years in jail if found guilty of money laundering. The maximum term for false accounting is seven years.

Wise now sits as an independent MEP for East Anglia after being dismissed from the Rightwing party.

News of the criminal charges will once again turn the spotlight on the Brussels gravy train.

Wise’s lawyer, Stephen Welfare, said: ‘Mr Wise denies any intent to deceive or any unlawful wrongdoing whatsoever and he will be fighting the allegations in court.’

He said neither Wise nor his family had profited and said there had been no loss to the European Parliament.

He added: ‘It is frankly scandalous that Mr Wise has been charged with criminal offences.’

Source

Conservative Councillor charged with rape

2009-04-19T07:55:00.003+01:00

Huw Elystan Davies

A TEACHER appears before magistrates charged with rape and drugs offences.

Huw Elystan Davies, of Ewenny Road, Bridgend, also a town councillor in the area, had his case committed to Crown Court for trial.

The 37-year-old faces charges of rape, possessing cocaine and supplying cocaine at his home between November 16 and 17 last year.

He was released on conditional bail until his appearance at Cardiff Crown Court tomorrow.

Davies is head of Welsh at Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend.

Source

Labour - Councillor - Jailed Child Pornography

2009-04-17T22:34:00.000+01:00

COMPUTER : Joe Shaw was arrested at Wigan Town Hall

A former Wigan councillor has been re-bailed by police investigating alleged computer child porn.

Joe Shaw, 40, the former member for Beech Hill who lives in Standish, was arrested at Wigan Town Hall last summer by detectives on suspicion of having child pornography on his home computer.
He has been ordered to return to Wigan Police Station on Monday, April 14, pending further inquiries.

Mr Shaw stood down from the council, resigning his position on the Metro's licensing and regulation committees as well as Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.
Elected to Wigan Council in 2005, Mr Shaw, who is unemployed, represented Wigan West ward.

Source

UPDATE Jan 07 2009

A former Wigan Labour councillor is facing amended charges in relation to alleged child porn offences.

Joe Shaw, of Avondale Street, Standish, will face 16 charges of making indecent images of a child and one of possessing an indecent image of child when he appears before Liverpool Crown Court on March 10.

The 42-year-old was originally charged with 16 charges of possessing an indecent image of a child, but these charges were withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service with the agreement of the defendant.

Mr Shaw made his second appearance before Wigan Magistrates' Court yesterday and was remanded on conditional bail until his first Crown Court date.
He will face two alleged firearms offences on the same date.

Mr Shaw, who joined Wigan Metro in 2004 and represented Wigan West ward for one term (three years), is alleged to have had a prohibited weapon and ammunition without a certificate.

He was arrested at the Town Hall in Hewlett Street in July 2007 .

Source

UPDATE April 17

A former Wigan councillor who downloaded child porn and had a gun and ammunition in his safe was today (Thur) jailed for six years.

A court heard that Joseph Shaw's offending came to light after his daughter found the indecent images on his computer.

She was so shocked she did not initially tell anyone but after she found he had continued visiting child porn sites and also discovered texts on his phone apparently making obscene references to her she told a counsellor who alerted police.

JaIling 42-year-old Shaw, Judge David Swift said, "At the time you were in a possession of public responsibility, a man to whom others might look for an example."

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Shaw had been a Labour councillor for Wigan West for three years and also a member of the Greater Manchester Transport Authority,

Judge Swift told Shaw that the indecent images, totalling almost 2,000, involved the exploitation of children, "some very young indeed." The children had been subjected to "degrading and sickening experiences", he said.

When police raided his home in Avondale Street, Standish, they found a World War 11 .38 Smith & Wesson revolver and 15 cartridges for it in a safe.

Shawk, who had a shotgun certificate, used to be a member of a gun club and must have been aware that the gun was capable of firing live ammunition and must have known it was prohibited, said Michael Scholes, prosecuting.

He said that the indecent images found on Shaw's computer covered all five categories of abuse and had been discovered by his daughter in April 2007.

He told her not to use his computer but she did while he was out and it was when visiting the 'history box' to delete any trace of her usage that she saw he had been visiting child porn sites.

The next month she again checked his computer and found he had visited similar sites.

Her father was arrested in July that year at Wigan Town Hall and when his home was searched it was found to be "chaotic and disordered."

A total of 1,967 indecent images, including still and movie files, were found, including 17 in the most serious category involving sadism.

When interviewed Shaw, who has no previous convictions, described the pornographic images as "disgusting. I wouldn't hurt a kid." He admitted he had developed a fascination for viewing the images out of curiousity and visited illicit websites 2 - 3 times a week.

Shaw pleaded guilty to 17 offences of making indecent images and one charge of possessing indecent images of children. He also admitted having a prohibited weapon, the handgun and ammunition.

He was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and Judge Swift also made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for life banning him from being alone in the company of children.

Source

Conservative Councillor Jailed - Fraud

2009-04-17T05:26:00.003+01:00

Not so smug now

A FORMER Tory councillor has been jailed after spending £35,864 on “fine dining and expensive living” and claiming it back on expenses.

Daniel Smy visited London hotels and shops including the Savoy, Royal Horseguards and Selfridges, and claimed for a chauffeur-driven journey from Dorset to the Carlton Club, a court was told.

The former deputy chairman of South Dorset Conservative Association was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday. He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of theft and forgery as chairman of the Portman Building Society’s group staff association.

Smy, 35, of Mount Skippet Way, Crossways, was a West Dorset District Councillor when the 10 offences took place between 2003 and 2006.

Smy – who asked the court to take 86 further offences into consideration – is also ex-chairman of Crossways Parish Council.

Prosecuting, Alison England said he was in a position of trust at the Portman Building Society as he oversaw contributions to the staff association. She said treasurer Diana Stevenson realised Smy’s expenses were inappropriate and challenged him about an invoice for a visit to a Dorchester pub.

When previous claims were looked at, cheques with forged signatures were found. Miss England said Smy spent the money leading a life of fine dining and living in top hotels.

The court was told Smy admitted using his employer’s funds for his own use and saw it as a perk of the job as his £18,000-a-year salary was not enough.

In mitigation Robert Grey said Smy was a man of good character with a history of helping people but had felt “a build-up of stress and isolation” and “got carried away”.

He said Smy was on anti-depressants and was “beside himself with shame”.

The Rev Jaqueline Birdseye from the Moreton Parishes told Judge John Beashel of Smy’s involvement with community projects. But he was sentenced to 12 months for each of the 10 offences with the sentences to run concurrently.

Source

Labour MP - Fraud

2009-03-29T13:40:00.002+01:00

Every thing you need to know about Harry Cohen
The King Pig of the Politcal Parasites

The Labour politician with the highest expenses claim of any London MP has denied that he was cheating taxpayers by claiming a second-home allowance while maintaining that his main home is a single-bedroom schoolhouse and seaside caravan 70 miles from his constituency.

Defiant Left-winger Harry Cohen said: 'When MPs were given this allowance they were told "Go and spend it, boys" and that is what I have done. It is my right.'

His comments come as The Mail on Sunday launches a petition to demand a full enquiry into MPs' expenses, to report within three months and NOT after the general election as is currently suggested.

Mr Cohen has claimed every single penny of the maximum £104,701 in Commons expenses in the past five years for his £375,000 property in his Leyton and Wanstead constituency in East London, on the basis that it is his 'second home'.

Astonishingly, he says he has claimed the full second-home allowance since 1990.

It means he has pocketed a staggering £310,714 in total - believed to be the largest amount ever claimed by any MP.

Yet he declares on his Labour website that he and wife Ellen 'live' in Leyton and 'spend weekends at their static caravan' on Mersea Island, an unspoilt stretch of the East Anglian coast.

If his real main residence is the Leyton house, it means his Commons allowance has funded a holiday home completely unconnected with either his parliamentary or constituency duties.

Source and Full Story(Must read)

UKIP Candidate - Paedophile

2009-03-29T13:30:00.001+01:00

No wonder he converted to Islam

A FORMER Worcester UKIP candidate –- who has since converted to Islam – has been sentenced for possessing indecent photographs of children.

Jason Phillips, who stood in the city’s 2007 elections for the Arboretum ward, had previously admitted downloading two indecent images of a child.

Sallie Hewitt, prosecuting, said police were alerted to Phillips when he sent sexually offensive messages to friends of his new girlfriend’s ex-husband through the social networking site Facebook.

When questioned by police he told them he had sent the message to be as offensive as possible.

Police officers seized his computer and in December 2008 it was found to contain the images, which were deemed to be Level 2 photos – the most serious being Level 5.

One had been placed into the computer recycling bin.

Mrs Hewitt said Phillips told police four years previously a friend had downloaded adult porn on to his computer as he thought it was funny, but had deleted it.

In mitigation, Paul Stanley said Phillips had sent the messages after receiving unpleasant messages himself.

Mr Stanley said Phillips was unhappy about being in court and pleading guilty to these offences.

“It’s a possession matter only in relation to two stills which might or might not be real,” he said.

“It has been for him a very difficult period of time. He has never been in trouble with the court before.”

The 33-year-old, of Cyril Road, Rainbow Hill, who has now changed his name by deed poll after converting to Islam to Abdullah Nasser Jihad, will now have to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Magistrates also sentenced him to a community order with two requirements – that he attend a sex offenders group programme and be supervised for three years.

He was also ordered to pay £60 in costs and a forfeiture and destruction order was made on the computer.

In a letter Phillips wrote to your Worcester News the day before he was sentenced, he explained how he had converted to Islam.

Phillips also said he had been very depressed.

Source

Labour Minister - Expense Fraud

2009-03-25T10:10:00.002Z

Tony McNulty - He's doing just fine out of us

A Government minister who claimed £60,000 in allowances for the house where his parents live has been reported to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner - by his local Tory MP.

Tony McNulty, the Employment Minister, claimed "second home allowance" for the house in his Harrow East constituency, in northwest London, from 2001 until earlier this year, even though he moved out in 2002 after getting married for the second time.

Mr McNulty lives nine miles away in Hammersmith, whose MP, the Tory frontbencher Greg Hands, reported him today to John Lyon, the Commons standards watchdog.

"Charging as the Member of Parliament for Harrow for a second home in Harrow when you are living in Hammersmith, and neither of these places are very far from Westminster to start with, and at the same time in that second home are living the MP’s parents, then clearly there has got to be an inquiry," Mr Hands said.
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Mr McNulty insists that his claims are legitimate because he used to sleep in the house when he was first an MP. He says that he still uses the house as an constituency office.

But the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, questioned the claim today and said that Mr McNulty might have to pay back some of the money.

"He talks about using it as a base to do constituency work, but he didn’t say that he stayed overnight there," Sir Alistair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I think he has a few questions to answer and if he was not staying overnight there there probably should be some money repaid."

It emerged today that the standards committee, set up by John Major in 1994 to help clean up politics - is again considering a wide-ranging review of MPs' expenses, although sources close to the body said that that was not directly linked to the controversy surrounding Mr McNulty.

Sir Alistair, who chaired the committee from 2004 to 2007, backed the call for a full review.

"I think the important thing is that it has been left to MPs to sort out their own arrangements and I think that is a slightly absurd arrangement. I don’t think the public feel they can trust them in this area," he said.

Among those criticising the claim today was Alan Duncan, the Shadow Leader of the Commons, who told the BBC that it was "not clear" that Mr McNulty had operated within the rules.

"The allowance is for a second home, it is not for a constituency office. There he is brazenly trying to bat this away by saying, ’Oh well, the system is not very good but I didn’t do anything wrong’," Mr Duncan said. "There are some serious questions still to be answered."

Source and Full Story

Labour MP - Fraud

2009-03-25T10:02:00.004Z

Another corrupt Labour MP

A GOVERNMENT whip was today embroiled in the growing expenses row after claiming thousands of pounds for a second London home despite already having one within 10 miles of Westminster.

Assistant government whip Dawn Butler has claimed £37,245 in taxpayers' cash in two years to pay for a second property.

The Labour MP for Brent South has a house in Wembley, aboutnine miles or a 32-minute Tube journey to Westminster, and a home in Stratford, about eight miles or a 24-minute Tube ride.

She was today facing questions over why she needed the two homes, which are almost exactly the same distance from the Houses of Parliament. Her office has stressed in the past that she moved into the Wembley house after being elected in 2005 to allow her to serve her constituents.

Ms Butler is the second government member to come under fire this week over second home allowances after it emerged Employment Minister Tony McNulty claimed £60,000 for a house in Harrow where his parents live.

Opposition MPs and Ms Butler's neighbours today criticised her housing arrangements.

Greg Hands, Tory MP for Hammersmith & Fulham, said: "These allegations raise further questions. Gordon Brown needs to get a grip on his ministers and their expense claims."

Mark Jansen, 26, who lives two doors from Ms Butler's Stratford home, said: "Most taxpayers can't even afford houses at the moment and yet an elected MP, who is meant to represent us, has two. That just doesn't seem fair, especially in the current financial climate."

Ms Butler claimed £15,442 in second home allowance in 2005/06 and £21,803 in 2006/07. As an assistant government whip, she is entitled to an annual salary of nearly £90,000 including her MP's entitlement of £63,291. Her total expenses' claim, which includes staffing, office, travel, postage, second home and other costs, was £285,356 over two years.

Ms Butler bought the three-bedroom, mid-terrace Wembley home for £250,000 in 2006. It is now valued at about £260,000. Her two-bedroom terrace Str atford home, believed to be the family home she lived in before becoming an MP, is worth around £235,000.

Neighbours today said she is rarely at the Stratford home. Jose Gomes, 40, has lived next door for 14 years. He said: "I used to see her all the time, now I only see her every couple of months. Her brother's here occasionally."

Her neighbours in Wembley said they regularly see her and that she spends the majority of her time there. Speaking at her Wembley home today, Ms Butler declined to answer questions from The Standard about her use of the second home allowance. She said: "I totally resent you coming to my private home. Have some respect. How dare you."

Her spokesman has previously justified the expenses claim and said: "When she was elected she moved straight into the constituency and the [allowance] helps her to do that."

The Prime Minister has backed an inquiry into MPs' expenses by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and has sought to widen it to include work carried out by politicians outside Parliament.

A number of Tory frontbenchers have lucrative directorships which have been criticised by other MPs.

Source

Conservative Councillor punched neighbour

2009-03-06T09:04:00.001Z

A Tory councillor allegedly punched his neighbour in a longstanding feud.

Geraint Jones lost his temper and stormed up to the man "screaming and shouting", before punching him in the head, a court heard.

Hinckley Magistrates' Court was told the men had been arguing for years about neighbour Anthony Harrison having access to his home across Jones's property.

The argument flared when Mr Harrison walked across Jones's property to unload bags of granite chippings outside his home.

He said Jones hurled verbal abuse, then traced him to a nearby house where he was working and hit him.

Jones (61), a North West Leicestershire District councillor, denies assault.

Mr Harrison, a 47-year-old roofer who lives next door to him in Tamworth Road, Ashby, said the punch was thrown two hours later, as he worked at a house in Nottingham Road.

He admitted they had fought before, and that he had beaten up Jones while defending himself in the past.

On this occasion, he said the punch came out of the blue.

He said: "I saw Jones charging down the entryway saying words along the lines of 'What the hell is going on here?'.

"I went to block his path, saying something like 'Get away from this job'.

Mr Harrison said Jones then used abusive language.

"I stood in front of him and he tried to barge past me. He carried on using vulgar language," Mr Harrison told the court.

"Because I wouldn't let him past, he swung a punch. It stung me. I was shocked by the whole incident."

During the earlier incident outside their homes, Mr Harrison said Jones had stood on the other side of a gate "shouting obscenities at me".

The court was told the altercation happened on June 11.

Mr Harrison said in 1996 Jones had attacked him but ended up getting "the worst of it".

The trial is to continue at a later date.

Source

Labour Councillor - Illegal Taxi

2009-02-28T07:43:00.003Z

No prosecution. Why?

OPPOSITION leaders have called for the chairman of Bolton’s planning committee to consider his position after he admitted to operating an illegal taxi.

Labour councillor Sean Hornby has received a “simple caution” after admitting using his car as a taxi without a licence, acting as a taxi driver without a licence, operating a car as a taxi without an operator licence and using his car as a taxi without the correct insurance.

Yesterday, Bolton Council withdrew the case at Bolton Magistrates’ Court as Cllr Hornby accepted the caution — which means he admitted the offences.

His previous “not guilty” pleas were “vacated” — removed from the court.

The case has been ongoing since last August and has cost Bolton taxpayers thousands of pounds.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats leaders have called on Cllr Hornby, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever, to consider his position.

Tory leader Cllr John Walsh said: “Anyone in public life is accountable. I hope Cllr Hornby will consider his position.”

Cllr David Wilkinson, deputy leader of the Lib Dems and licensing committee member, said: “It is up to Labour to proceed with this as they see fit.

“The planning committee has a lot of responsibility and if the chairman cannot adhere to the rules set by another committee of a similar standing, then questions need to be asked.”

But Cllr Hornby’s solicitor Ajmal Hussain, of AGH Solicitors, said his client would continue in his roles He said: “Mr Hornby has faced considerable stress and anxiety in a saga that has lasted for almost 12 months.

“He now intends to resume his normal personal and political life.

“Mr Hornby, a diligent and committed councillor, intends to continue serving his constituents. He intends to contest the next local elections in May, 2010.”

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of the Labour Group and Bolton Council, said: “The issue has been dealt with by officers in the appropriate way. There are no implications for Cllr Hornby’s position under the code of conduct for councillors.”

A simple caution is not a conviction, but can be cited before a court on subsequent conviction.

Cllr Hornby, who was elected in 2006, originally pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the council said it opted to issue him a simple caution after he indicated, before the start of a planned trial last Monday, that he was willing to accept it.

A council spokesman said: “We are pleased that the matter has now been resolved and Cllr Hornby has been dealt with appropriately.”

Cllr Hornby was granted permission to apply for his costs from the Central Fund, a fund similar to legal aid but for privately-funded defences.

Source

UPDATE 6 March 09

Councillor Suspended

Conservative Councillor - Corruption

2009-02-28T07:36:00.002Z

Roger Ibbs

A senior city councillor has tonight been bailed after earlier being arrested in connection with a police inquiry into political corruption.

Officers from the Staffordshire Police Major Investigations Department arrested councillor Roger Ibbs this morning.

It is understood that police were called in by senior officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council following a lengthy internal inquiry.

Police questioned a 61-year-old man on suspicion of corruption in public office before bailing him tonight.

Mr Ibbs, of Kingsway, Stoke, is the leader of the Conservative and Independent Alliance group on the city council and the portfolio holder for children and young people's services.

Source

Conservative Councillor - admits child porn charges

2009-02-17T12:25:00.001Z

David Charles - Paedophile

A PAEDOPHILE councillor admitted a string of child pornography charges - two-and-a-half years after being arrested.

David Charles, 60, from Cranham, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of possessing vile images of youngsters, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Charles, a councillor in the St Andrew's ward in Hornchurch, quit the Conservative Party following his arrest at home by officers from the Havering child abuse investigation team in June 2006. Since then he has been an independent councillor.

Residents' Association councillor Barbara Matthews (Hacton ward) said this wewek that Charles must now step down.

"If there's any honour in that man at all he will resign - regardless of any prison sentence," she said, adding his position as a local councillor was now "untenable".

Depraved images were found downloaded on Charles' home computer by police.

At an earlier hearing Charles claimed he only viewed adult pornography and discovered child porn "by accident".

He used the alias "Avenger" online and told police he downloaded the pictures and reported the websites to an American internet watchdog before deleting the obscene images.

He was formally charged with child porn offences in June 2007, but denied them.

His trial was due to take place on April 8, but now he has admitted to the charges, this date will act as his sentencing hearing.

Judge Simon Wilkinson said at last Wednesday's hearing: "All sentencing options are open."

Charles will be dropped as a councillor should he receive a prison sentence of more than three months, Havering Council confirmed.

Cllr Matthews added: "As a councillor he is often invited into people's homes. They are not going to be comfortable with that now.

"While there must be relief that there has been a resolution to all this, it is unbelievably crass that he has taken over two years to come forward."

Charles, who is in receipt of a councillor's allowance of £8,507 for 2008/9, failed to attend a single Hornchurch Area Committee meeting in 2007. He refused to comment.

Source

Labour Councillor - Dangerous Driving, No Documents

2009-02-08T11:11:00.002Z

A COUNCILLOR has been banned from driving for two years.

John James Jones, 63, of North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last week charged with dangerous driving, having an inappropriate licence and no insurance.

He was convicted and was given a two-year driving ban, fined £1000 and ordered to pay costs of £40.

But under the Local Government Act 1972 he also faces being booted off the council and banned from public office for five years.

Source

Lib Dem - Mayor/Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2009-02-05T10:17:00.001Z

Come on Councillor. Don't just sit there. Help me move these boxes

FORMER mayor of Horwich Bernard McCartin broke down in tears as he admitted to a court he was a benefits cheat.

The 66-year-old told magistrates he had defrauded more than £18,000 from the public purse.

McCartin claimed he suffered from crippling back pain and that he could walk no further than 25 yards without a stick.

But he was exposed as a liar when investigators from the Department of Work and Pensions caught him on film.
In an amazing set of clips, McCartin, the former first citizen of Horwich, is seen: l Lifting and carrying a huge bag of compost from the back seat of his car l Lifting heavy boxes of match day programmes which he sold from his wheelchair at the Reebok Stadium l Walking distances of up to 1,100 yards without the aid of his walking stick and without showing any signs of discomfort l Carrying heavy bags of shopping out of a supermarket with his walking stick under his arm l Painting fence posts l Putting on his mayoral chain before attending functions.

Yesterday, magistrates in Bury gave him an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a six-month curfew between 5pm and 5am.

McCartin was also told he must wear an electronic tag and pay £250 costs.

The court heard McCartin, of Ainsworth Avenue, Horwich, admitted he should have informed the DWP about an improvement in his condition.

David Hewitt, prosecuting, said McCartin was overpaid by the sum of £18,022 over a period of four years.

In 1997, Mr Hewitt said, McCartin was found to be in need of the higher rate of disability benefit in terms of his mobility and the middle rate in respect of his care needs.

The court heard the higher rate was only available for people who cannot walk at all, or can walk but with great difficulty.

“In his application form, McCartin stated that he was unable to walk without the aid of a walking stick and said he could only walk 25 yards before feeling severe discomfort. He said it would take him 15 minutes to walk 25 yards,” said Mr Hewitt.

The DWP filmed McCartin between January and May, 2007 — while he was mayor of Horwich — and captured the incriminating evidence on film.

Officers spoke to him in August, 2007, when he admitted there had been an improvement in his circumstances in May, 2003, when he became a councillor.

He did not report the changes to the DWP however.

Anthony Shimmin, defending, said McCartin was a man of previous good character who suffered from myopathy — a disease which weakens the muscles.

He had worked all his life but this forced him to stop, causing him to become house-bound and depressed.

Mr Shimmin said McCartin turned his life around by becoming a councillor and working in his local community, causing him to push himself beyond his limits.

He added: “The video doesn’t show his suffering at home and the fact that he doesn’t sleep very much. He has served his local community and been promoted to its highest office and now he faces this shame.

“And he is ashamed. This has broken him as much as his medical condition has.”

DWP investigator Andrew Wood said after the hearing: “We would like to make it clear to everybody that there are serious consequences if you commit benefit fraud.”

McCartin was also ordered to pay the £18,000 back at a rate of £12 a week.

Source

Lib Dem - Councillor - Assault

2009-01-31T11:03:00.000Z

A borough councillor has appeared in court in Northampton, charged with the assault of a former council colleague and community leader.
Prince Sadik Chaudhury, aged 36, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Thorplands, appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court yesterday, accused of assaulting Yousuf Miah, a former Conservative councillor who is the chairman of the Northampton Bangladeshi Association.

Chaudhury, of Parkside in Ecton Brook, pleaded not guilty to a car park scuffle, which allegedly happened after a meal at the Delhi Cottage restaurant in Far Cotton, Northampton, in April last year.

The fracas allegedly happened after claims of an argument between the two men over a previous conversation.

The case was adjourned to a later date.

Source

Conservative - Councillor - Child pornography

2009-01-29T08:03:00.001Z

A FORMER Conservative councillor has admitted downloading more than 1,700 indecent images of children.

Ian McKellar, of Sandy Lane, West Kirby, pleaded guilty to eight offences of making indecent images before May 11, 2006.

Liverpool crown court heard the images involved 1,639 images in the lowest category and the other 83 were in the next three more serious categories.

McKellar is a former chairman of West Wirral Conservatives and represented Claughton on Wirral Council in the 1980s.

Arthur Gibson, defending, told the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe QC, that McKellar pleaded guilty on the basis he had deliberately sought to look at naked girls aged between 12-16 in erotic poses.

But he said McKellar had not wanted to look at children involved in the more serious categories, including having sex with adults.

Mr Gibson said the images were not stored after being viewed.

McKellar, 58, denied another offence of making indecent photographs, involving six images, which will now be dropped.

Cllr Jeff Green, leader of the Conservative group on Wirral Council, this week distanced the party from McKellar.

He said: “My understanding is he has not been a member of Wirral West Conservatives for some time.

“He tried to reapply to become a member and was turned down.

“He is a man with a family and it is a terrible situation. He must now await his sentence.”

Ian McKellar’s solicitor David Kirwan said: “My client deeply regrets his actions and no one is more ashamed than he.

“While he fully appreciates that he has let down his many friends and colleagues, he hopes that they will understand that these actions were completely out of character.

“Apart from service as a councillor, he has worked unstintingly for many years within the voluntary sector.”

McKellar was further remanded on bail to await sentence on February 24.

Source

Labour Councillor - Election Fraud

2009-01-24T20:43:00.000Z

Enricher of Elections

A FORMER councillor is wanted by police investigating election fraud.

Mohammed Najib was arrested last May after the local elections, it emerged yesterday.

But he failed to answer bail in September and is now believed to be abroad.

Calderdale's first Asian councillor lost his Labour seat in Park ward last year after a 22-year stint.

It is believed Mr Najib is now living in Pakistan and inquiries are being made to trace him there.

Source

UPDATE Jan 24 2009

READERS rang the Courier yesterday to say they had seen wanted former Halifax councillor Mohammed Najib on David Dickinson's The Real Deal.
Mr Najib was seen to peer through a screen during an antiques viewing at Halifax Town Hall.

The show was aired yesterday but was recorded a few months ago.

Heather Terry, of Mixenden, said: "I've just seen your missing ex-councillor."

Mr Najib's solicitor confirmed the images were of his client.

Mr Najib is wanted by police investigating election fraud.

Conservative Councillor jailed after car chase

2009-01-24T13:27:00.001Z

A SHAMED councillor who acted as an advisor to a Midland police force was today starting a jail sentence after leading officers on a 70mph pursuit through Birmingham streets.

Mohammed Farooqui was locked up for six months and banned from driving for two years after admitting a charge of dangerous driving.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the Redditch Borough Council member was driving too quickly when he collided with a Rover car in Handsworth on July 23 last year, causing four people to be taken to hospital.

Being pursued by police, he reached speeds of up to 70mph and ran a red light, narrowly missing two other vehicles and mounting the pavement.

He then tried to flee on foot before he was finally arrested.

Julian Harris, defending, said Farooqui, 30, of Station Road, Handsworth, had been a councillor since the age of 24 and had acted as an independent advisor to West Mercia Police.

Passing sentence, Judge Melbourne Inman QC said motorists who put members of the public at risk by their driving would go to prison.

Mr Harris, said Farooqui worked as a surveyor but had recently lost his job.

On that particular night, he said, Farooqui had attended a property award ceremony at the International Convention Centre and had decided to visit his partner who thought she may be pregnant, although this subsequently turned out to be false.

He said Farooqui had had a lost of personal problems, was concerned about the welfare of his partner and at the time was “at the end of his tether”.

Mr Harris said Farooqui panicked after the accident and what he did was “utterly out of character”.

He said any form of custodial sentence would mean the defendant would have to resign as a councillor.

Source

Labour Peer - Dangerous driving

2009-01-21T08:19:00.003Z

The 51-year-old peer was at the wheel of his gold coloured X Type Jaguar when it ploughed into an Audi A4 that had broken down in the fast lane of the M1 near Rotherham.

Now almost a year after the death Lord Ahmed will appear before Magistrates in Sheffield on a date to be fixed.

As part of the investigation traffic police examined Lord Ahmed's mobile phone on which he made a 999 call from the scene.

It was alleged that shortly before the emergency call a text message was sent to a journalist.

South Yorkshire Police investigators submitted a detailed file to the CPS who have now decided there is insufficient evidence for a charge of death by dangerous driving.

Instead the peer will face a lesser charge of dangerous driving.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "On advice from the Special Crime Division of the CPS, a 51-year-old Rotherham man will be issued with a summons to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court in relation to driving his motor car dangerously on the southbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 40 and 35 on December 25, 2007."

The victim, Slovakian Martyn Gombar, died instantly in the impact and Lord Ahmed suffered severe facial injuries and shock.

The Audi hit the crash central crash barrier , spun round and ended up facing the wrong way on the southbound carriageway near to Junction 35 at Thorpe Hesley, near Rotherham.

The driver and one passenger managed to reach the hard shoulder but police believe the driver then tried to dodge fast moving traffic at 6.20 pm on Christmas Day, to get back to his car to retrieve his mobile phone and call for help.

The car belonging to Pakistani born Lord Ahmed , who has lived in nearby Rotherham since he was a child, then hit the car and driver.

At least four other vehicles were also involved in the crash.

The dead man had been living in the Leigh area of Lancashire. His passenger, also a Slovakian was arrested by police and questioned.

Lord Ahmed, along with three other people, was taken to Rotherham District General Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and was allowed home later.

At the time although still badly shaken he confirmed he was at the wheel of his Jaguar car when it struck the Audi. He confirmed he was injured and treated in hospital before being allowed home.

At his home in Rotherham he said soon after the accident : "I was just driving along when I saw a red Audi facing the wrong way -- it was absolutely horrendous but I don't want to talk about it.

"I am not able to say much about the accident because the police are still investigating the case.

"It was terrible. There was a red car in the third lane facing the wrong way and there was nothing I could do."

Lord Ahmed, a father-of-three, was only minutes from his home in Rotherham when the tragedy happened. His passengers, his 49-year-old wife, Sakina Bibi, and his mother in her mid-80s, suffered bruising.

Sakina said of her husband: "He's in shock. He has cuts and bruises."

The Labour peer -- whose official title is Lord Ahmed of Rotherham -- became the first Muslim in modern times to become a lord when he was appointed to the House of Lords in 1998.

In November last year he flew to Sudan and negotiated the release of British teacher Gillian Gibbons , jailed for allowing children in her class to call a teddy bear Muhammad.

Source

Lib Dem Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2009-01-19T13:36:00.002Z

Daniel Martin

A Dorset councillor has appeared in court to deny benefit fraud.

Councillor Daniel Martin, a Lib Dem member of Poole Borough Council, is accused of using false representation to obtain Job Seeker's Allowance.

Mr Martin, of Kingcup Close, Broadstone, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to enter the plea.

The councillor, who was elected in May 2007, was released on unconditional bail. The case was moved to Dorchester Crown Court for a date yet to be set.

The charge relates to a period before Mr Martin was elected.

Liberal Democrat Councillor - Misconduct

2009-01-15T10:29:00.003Z

Thanks Julian. You made my hat trick for the day

THE Liberal Democrats' next general election contender for Totnes, Julian Brazil, faces being suspended as a district councillor following a dust-up with one of his council's own officers.

The outspoken district councillor has been accused of breaching the national council code of conduct because of his behaviour.

Now South Hams Council's standards board has taken a decision behind closed doors to press ahead with a hearing.

If he is found 'guilty', Mr Brazil could be suspended and barred from taking part in any district council activities for the next six months.

Although South Hams Council has admitted that the standards board, made up of district councillor and independent members, will be holding a public hearing some time in the next month into a councillor's behaviour, it has so far refused to reveal who it is.

But former school teacher Mr Brazil, who is also a county councillor as well as the Liberal Democrat's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Totnes seat, revealed he is the subject of the hearing.

He explained it centred on a 'robust discussion' between himself and a council officer over a benefits fraud allegation and a local businessman he claims was being bullied.

"I was asked by a member of the public for support and that is what I did," he said.

He said he had confronted the officer concerned over the allegations. The officer had later complained about him.

The standards board excluded both the public and the press from its meeting this week as it studied a report from the council's own legal team over the alleged confrontation involving Mr Brazil before deciding to press ahead with a hearing.

Mr Brazil said he had seen a copy of the report and accepted that everything it declares was said is correct although, he claimed, it has been taken out of context.

Mr Brazil has been a district councillor representing the Saltstone ward of the district council for nine years.

He has been a Kingsbridge and Stokenham county councillor for almost four years.

He was last year selected to be the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Totnes with the aim of taking on sitting Tory MP Anthony Steen at the next general election.

South Hams Council's standards board is made up of two district councillors, an independent chairman and two other independent members.

They will form the panel which will decide Mr Brazil's 'innocence' or 'guilt' when the hearing takes place.

Their ultimate punishment is the six-month suspension from council activities. They can also mete out lesser punishments that include ordering him to make a written apology, telling him to undertake council training or formally censuring him — which means giving him a stiff telling off.

Mr Brazil said he found it 'extraordinary' that the case was being brought.

"I feel I am there not to represent the council or the council officers but to represent the local people and local communities and get the best deal for them. South Hams Council has never liked that approach," he said.

Conservative Candidate - Ballot Rigging

2009-01-15T07:14:00.001Z

A Conservative candidate, from Buckinghamshire, who was contesting a marginal seat at the last general election conspired with five other men to 'rig' the result, a court has heard.

Haroon Rashid hoped to win the West Bradford seat by using bogus postal vote applications, Leeds Crown Court was told.
Prosecuting, Mr Gordon Cole QC, told the jury the plan was 'very simple, illegal and dishonest.'

He said: 'Had the conspiracy continued on through to the end, had it been successful, Haroon Rashid may very well have been elected as Member of Parliament and been sitting in the House of Commons.'

Rashid, 38, of Richings Way, Iver, Mohammed Sultan, 51, of Toller Lane, Bradford, Mohammed Rafiq, 68, of Cecil Avenue, Bradford, Reis Khan, 39, of Whetley Hill, Bradford and Jamshed Khan, 64, of Russell Street, Bradford, all deny conspiracy to defraud the electoral registration officer of Bradford City Council.

Another man, Alyas Khan, has admitted the charge, the jury was told.

Mr Cole told the jury the case involved Postal Vote Applications and a conspiracy to submit fraudulent applications.

Mr Cole said the defendants falsely registered individuals to vote on the electoral register, using the names of people who did not live at the addresses to which they were registered.

The plan was to 'harvest' the bogus votes, he added.

He said they hoped to 'rig' the system 'so that Haroon Rashid could and would get elected'

The trial continues

The jury was told the conspiracy failed and the sitting MP was re-elected by just over 3,000 votes.

Source

Labour Council Leader - Fraud

2009-01-15T05:51:00.000Z

A former Worcestershire council leader has pleaded guilty to stealing tens of thousands of pounds from a charity.

Ex-leader of Redditch Borough Council David Roy Cartwright, 52, admitted stealing at least £24,695 from local homeless charity Step Out Drop In.

He also admitted making false claims for the charity totalling £63,467 between June 1997 and April 2001.

Cartwright, of Donnington Close, Redditch, will return to Hereford Crown Court for sentencing on 27 February.

The Step Out Drop In charity has since collapsed.

The court heard how Cartwright, who served as a councillor on three separate occasions between 1986 and 2007, had made false claims to the borough council, a charitable foundation and a government department.

Fake invoices

Police were called into investigate the former council leader after Worcestershire County Council's adult services department became suspicious.

Between June 1997 and June 1998 he claimed £21,118 from the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions after saying Step Out Drop In was eligible for a grant to employ an extra member of staff when he knew it was not.

He submitted two invoices between February 2000 and July 2001 for £17,106 and £20,243 to Redditch Borough Council for payments that he knew were fake.

Cartwright, who was leader of the council on three separate occasions between 2002 and 2003, 2004 and 2005, and May 2005 to October 2005, also claimed £5,000 from the Eveson Charitable Trust after sending it a fake builder's invoice.

Det Con Andy Moseley, of West Mercia Police, said: "People often refer to fraud as a victimless crime. It never is.

"In this case, the victims are those homeless and vulnerable people who stood to benefit from this charity but who found themselves looking elsewhere for support and assistance when Mr Cartwright's criminal activity finally and inevitably led to its collapse."

Source

Lib Dem - Drink Driving

2008-12-19T15:12:00.002Z

A leading councillor has urged others to avoid repeating his mistake and becoming a convicted drink driver.
Cllr Simon McDougall, who is a member of Bersted, Bognor, Arun and West Sussex councils, said he deeply embarrassed by the actions which caused him to break the law.

The Christmas and new year period sees Sussex Police increase their efforts to k
eep the roads safe from those who drive after they have consumed too much alcohol.

The combination of festive parties and relaxed moods can bring the temptation to have too many drinks.

Cllr McDougall said his experience showed that no-one should have doubts about the consequences of behaving like that.

"I would urge everyone out there to heed the warnings issued by the police and not to make the mistake I did," he stated.

"My mistake was common of so many. I had a couple of drinks on an empty stomach, thought I was okay to drive when clearly I was not.

"There is not a day goes by that I do not regret my actions, particularly with the extra strain put on my family by needing to drive me around and putting alternative child-care arrangements in place because I was not able to guarantee the reliability of public transport.

"I have not been able to earn a proper income during this period and, indeed, the stigma of having a criminal record will haunt me for the rest of my life.

"Like everyone else, I am a human being and made an error in judgment.

"The fact is, I did have a choice and I made the wrong one.

"I am deeply embarrassed by my actions and regret this lapse in my otherwise blemish-free record as a councillor."

He was arrested for drink driving on November 14, 2007, in Aldwick Road.

He failed a roadside breath test and a subsequent test at Chichester police station. A second specimen confirmed the result.

He was found to have 46mg of alcohol in a 100ml of breath compared to the legal limit of 35mg.

He appeared before Chichester magistrates on January 22 this year and was banned from driving for a year.

This was reduced to nine months on condition he attended an alcohol awareness course.

He fulfilled the obligation and completed his ban at midnight on October 21. He was also fined £300 by the magistrates.

"While my arrest was caused by a borderline reading, I have learnt my lesson and will not make the same mistake twice," pledged Cllr McDougall.

He immediately reported his conviction to the district and county council officers who are responsible for the conduct of councillors.

Cllr McDougall has continued to serve his residents.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Electoral Fraud

2008-12-19T12:51:00.003Z

John Hall - Vote Rigging

A CONSERVATIVE activist from Hampshire has been found guilty of voting fraud.

John Hall was fined £1,000 for one count of using a false instrument with intent, but cleared of six further charges.

The 67-yearold former parish councillor, of Coriander Way, Whiteley, falsified proxy voting forms during the 2007 Winchester City Council elections.

Guildford Crown Court heard there was intense rivalry between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the Whiteley ward where just a handful of votes could change control of the seat.

Hall had previously told police that he had “acted with naivety”.

He was arrested by police ten days before the 2007 vote.

At the election for Winchester City Council, the Conservatives retained power with 29 seats ahead of the Liberal Democrat with 23 seats, four independents and one Labour representative.

Source

Lib Dem Councillor - Assault

2008-12-15T05:40:00.002Z

A DISGRACED councillor who attacked his wife was a 'dog of war' who spent years behind bars for mercenary activities, the Manchester Evening News can reveal today.

Peter Wright, a Lib Dem for 10 years in Tameside, was given a 23-week prison sentence yesterday for assaulting his partner of 17 years.

During a previous court hearing, at which Wright admitted his guilt, he was described by his solicitor as having led a `blameless life and devoted himself to the service of others'.

Full Story and Source

Conservative Councillor - Terrorism

2008-12-03T06:33:00.003Z

Maria Gatland - Terrorist

Maria Gatland stepped down from her post at Croydon Council after being exposed as the author of a "kiss and tell" book that detailed her relationships with figures in the provisionals, written under her maiden name Maria McGuire.

Her secret past emerged following cryptic comments at a public meeting from a local Save Our Schools campaigner, who referred to the cabinet member for children, young people and learners as "Councillor McGuire".

The man, Peter Latham, then apologised for his comment, but added that he was a devotee of Irish history and had been reading a book about the IRA which "you, Councillor Gatland, might have heard about as you are Irish".

Croydon Council said news of Miss Gatland's experience with the IRA came as a "complete shock". She has been suspended from the local authority's ruling Conservative group pending an investigation

"The council has been advised that Maria Gatland has resigned as cabinet member for children, young people and learners," a council spokesman said.

"This follows emerging news of her connection to the Provisional IRA – which has come as a complete shock to Croydon. Officers understand she has been urged to resign from the council."

Miss Gatland's book – To Take Arms: My Year With The IRA Provisionals – was written after she became disillusioned with the provisionals, and fled to England. It describes how she once acted as an interpreter for the movement on an arms-buying trip to the Continent.

She decided to cut herself off from the movement after 20 bombs were detonated in Belfast on July 21, 1972, killing 11 people and injuring more than a hundred, according to the book.

"Almost for the first time, I wondered about the crippled and the widowed and the lives that had been changed forever," she wrote. She is believed to have been sentenced to death by the IRA as a result.

"I have resigned. I am not prepared to say anything more at this stage," she said.

Source

Lib Dem Councillor - Paedophilia

2008-12-03T06:22:00.001Z

Morris Lightfoot

Former Deputy Mayor Jailed For Grooming Teen
A former deputy mayor has been sentenced to eight months in prison for attempting to 'groom' a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Morris Lightfoot, 55, of Dryden Close, Bilton, Harrogate, was arrested in November last year, and appeared before York Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

The 55-year-old was caught by a sting operation by an administrator on a social networking site.

The ex-Harrogate Deputy Mayor admitted three charges of asking the teenage girl for sex. He was placed on the sex offenders register and banned from working with children.

Nick Worsley, prosecuting, told York Crown Court Lightfoot had logged on under the name Moozzaa, and asked the girl if she wanted to lose her virginity to him, even though she had made it clear she was aged only 13.

However, the 'girl' was actually a male administrator of the site posing as the teenager, as part of the sting operation.

The Lib Dem councillor, who represented Bilton on Harrogate Borough Council and Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire county Council, was also automatically disqualified from being a councillor as a result of his sentence.

He had previously resisted calls to resign from both county and borough councils.

Source

In depth coverage here.

Conservative Councillor - Illegal Immigrants

2008-11-21T08:40:00.001Z

A councillor fined £15,000 after three illegal immigrants were arrested working in his Chinese restaurant earlier this year has appealed.

The Canton Restaurant, run by Cllr Patrick Chung and his family, in Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, was just one of four takeaways raided by border and immigration officials in August, when a total of 10 workers were arrested.

Cllr Chung told the Bury Free Press at the time of the arrests that he believed he had been adhering to the correct employment procedure.

He has since appealed against the fine.

Cllr Chung, who is on Bury Town Council, said: "We just got a warning from them and then they raised the fine to £15,000. We are sending all the evidence and documents but I'm leaving all of it to my solicitor now."

Other takeaways raided were Top Garden, in High Baxter Street, Bury, New Hung Tao House, in Westgate Street, Bury, and Elmswell Chinese Takeaway, in School Road.

A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency confirmed three immigration offenders were arrested by Felixstowe Enforcement Unit and a penalty of £15,000 was issued on September 1.

The spokeswoman said the appeal was still under consideration.

"If the penalty is upheld at the objection stage, the employer can then appeal to the courts. As this case is still within its appeal rights, we cannot comment on its status," she added.

Source

Conservative MEP - Fraud

2008-11-14T06:05:00.003Z

Den Dover

A senior Tory MEP was last night thrown out of the party as he faced a fraud investigation over an expenses scandal.

Brussels chiefs have already ruled that Den Dover is guilty of a 'conflict of interest' and 'unaccountable expenditure' by paying his staffing allowance to a family firm run from his £1million home.

David Cameron had previously expressed his determination to root out MPs and MEPs who abuse their expenses and allowances.

So hours after learning that Mr Dover had been censured, the Tory leader took the toughest action open to him.

Mr Dover can only be stripped of his seat by voters, but he has been expelled from the party and will be unable to seek re-election as a Tory.

The case has also been referred to the European anti-fraud unit OLAF.

In June, Mr Dover was forced to resign as Tory chief whip in Brussels after admitting that he paid £750,000 of taxpayers' money to MP Holdings, a company he set up after joining the European Parliament in 1999.

His wife Kathleen, 68, and daughter Amanda, 20, were handed £272,000 as directors.

EU officials said there was a conflict of interest involved because the former Chorley MP had an 'economic interest, or any shared interest, with the beneficiary' of the public money.

Mr Dover, 70, also spent £32,400 on repairs to the MP Holdings' headquarters, located at his home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Assault

2008-11-04T08:16:00.002Z

Jon Herbert

When district councillor Jon Herbert's dog escaped and was taken to a local pound he was desperate to get his beloved pet back.

But when South Norfolk Council staff asked him to stump up the necessary fee to collect the stray, a row ensued which culminated in the 52-year-old former chief executive of Norwich Union International attempting to seize his chocolate Labrador and assaulting two members of staff caring for his pet.

Herbert was yesterday found guilty of two counts of common assault and ordered to pay a total of £1,315 after witnesses described how he became "aggressive and downright rude" when he arrived to pick up his errant pet from Meadowgreen Rescue Centre and Kennels at Hales Green, near Loddon, on February 7. He had denied the charges.

Magistrates in Norwich heard how Herbert's dog was taken to the kennels after escaping on Mulbarton common.

After learning of his pet's fate, Herbert contacted the council and was told he would need to pay a fee before collecting the dog.

He was asked to pay £47 to release the dog but he refused to pay this amount and instead said that he would be prepared to pay a lower fee of £32, Norwich Magistrates' Court heard.

But Herbert, who serves as Conservative district councillor for Mulbarton ward, was told by David Osborne, director of environmental health, recycling and safety at South Norfolk Council, that the higher fee was appropriate because his dog had gone astray before.

Mr Osborne said in a statement: "During the conversation Mr Herbert appeared to be very upset and angry because he had to pay to collect the dog. I advised councillor Herbert that we were keen to return his dog but needed £47 to release it.

"Mr Herbert said to me that he would go to the kennels himself and obtain his dog. I advised him that the dog was in our safe keeping and would not be released by the kennel until authorised to do so."

Mr Osborne said he advised Herbert not to go to the kennels and added that Herbert used a swear word several times during the conversation.

The court heard that despite this advice, Herbert, of Norwich Road, Mulbarton, went to the kennels where he blocked the entrance to the premises with his 4x4 vehicle.

The court heard he demanded to see his dog and entered an area of the kennels where the animal was being kept despite a notice which said no entry.

Magistrates were told he assaulted kennel maid Lisa Wigg after she tried to stop him taking his pet. He also assaulted the co-owner of the kennel Cherie Cootes.

Giving evidence, Miss Wigg said that when Herbert arrived he was agitated and that on numerous occasions he said he just wanted his dog.

"I asked him if he had paid the council and he said he hadn't because he was in dispute with them," she said.

Miss Wigg said that Herbert went to the paddock where his dog was being held.

"I said 'you are not allowed in there'. We had a tussle. I tried to stand my ground. He grabbed me, picked me up and moved me. He went and grabbed his dog out of the paddock. He was doing a lot of shouting."

Dennis Sawyer, who was at the kennels to rehome a dog at the time, described Herbert's demeanour as "aggressive and downright rude."

Herbert claimed in court that he found his dog in an atrocious condition in a sea of mud.

He accepted that he had used immoderate language and that he was agitated and that there had been contact between himself and the two women, but he said he had "absolutely no intention to cause any sort of violence".

Magistrates found him guilty of two counts of common assault and ordered him to pay £250 to each of the victims, a fine of £250 on each of the charges, £15 victim surcharge and £300 in prosecution costs, taking the total payable to £1,315.

Speaking after the hearing Herbert said: "It was clearly a difficult decision for them in weighing the evidence, given the time of over an hour it took in making a decision. I am obviously disappointed with the result."

Speaking after the case, South Norfolk Council leader John Fuller described Herbert's conviction as a "personal tragedy" and said he felt sorry for the people concerned.

"As a member of the Conservative group he was suspended when the case came up in February, and his application for membership renewal will be reconsidered at the new group meeting.

"As regards his role as a councillor, this is something we will have to discuss."

Source

Lib Dem Councillor - Racial Abuse

2008-10-28T07:05:00.003Z

A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has been fined after he racially abused a police officer after a six-hour drinking binge.

Christian Walker, 34, was arrested in a 24-hour Tesco in Water Street, Stockport. in the early hours of August 28 this year after using a racial slur to insult PC Patrick Mulhill, who is of Chinese and British ethnicity.

Walker, who represents Brinnington and Central ward, pleaded not guilty to a racially aggravated section five public order offence.

He said his comments were 'banter' and 'a joke' designed to put a 'smile on someone's face that went wrong', when he appeared before Trafford magistrates yesterday.

The court heard Walker, of Northumberland Road, Stockport, and a friend were 'yelping' and 'yodelling' as they walked into the store at 2am.

He described himself as 'plastered' and 'wrecked' after a pub crawl on a works leaving do, which included hours in a club where you could drink all night for £10.

Thomas McCabe, prosecuting, said: "Pc Mulhill was called over by a security guard, who was dealing with a situation involving this male.

"He intervened because they were arguing and told him: 'You're not going to be served because you're already drunk, your speech is slurred and your eyes are glazed'."

It was then that Walker racially abused the officer, who was said to be shocked and upset. Walker was arrested and taken to Cheadle Heath police station, where he then called Pc Mulhill a 'homosexual' in an attempt to 'wind him up'.

Under cross-examination, Walker said his skills as a local politician allowed him to gauge how people respond to what he said and he didn't believe the officer had been offended by his comments.

Andrew Evans, defending, said it was an attempt at a friendly joke that had gone horribly wrong and Walker was not being hostile to the Pc on racial grounds, but to a figure of authority refusing to let him have alcohol.

Mr Evans said: "This was not someone showing hostility on the basis of membership of a racial group, but cheek gone wrong.

"What we have here is a policeman arresting a drunk man who attempted to be cheeky and, in doing so, he uses a word the policeman later finds offensive."

Walker, a telephone researcher for north west MEP, Chris Davies, was fined £200 with £300 costs. He had defeated long-term Labour councillor, Maureen Rowles, with a majority of 255 and sits on Stockport Council's environment and economy scrutiny committee. He is also a governor of Brinnington early years centre.

UPDATE 5/11/08

A STOCKPORT councillor’s career is hanging in the balance after he was convicted of racially abusing a police officer.

Lib-Dem representative for Brinnington and Central ward, Christian Walker, 34, has been suspended from the party after he went on a six-hour bender and slurred racist abuse at PC Patrick Mullhill, who is of Chinese descent.

Walker had pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated harassment at Trafford Magistrates on Monday, but was found guilty, fined £200 and ordered to pay £300 costs.

Source and Full Story

Liberal Democrat - Benefit Fraud

2008-10-24T11:05:00.001+01:00

A FORMER district councillor who fiddled his own authority out of £5,200 in benefits while jetting off on luxury foreign holidays, has been warned he could go to jail.

At Exeter Crown Court yesterday, Laurence Haydn-Higgins, 52, was found guilty of making false representations to obtain housing and council tax benefits.

The jury also convicted him of failing to promptly notify the authority that his working and child credit tax allowances had been increased.

Haydn-Higgins was released on bail while a pre-sentence report is prepared.

Recorder Michael Fitton told Haydn-Higgins: "You will be aware, having been convicted of these offences, that you face a prison sentence. I want you to discuss everything with the probation service so that I know the full effects on you of any sentence I impose."

During the trial, the jury heard that Haydn-Higgins failed to tell North Devon district council that his wife Julie was working and did not tell them that his tax credits had increased.

While he was operating the fraud, he and his family went on luxury holidays costing more than £10,000 to Tunisia, Turkey and the Dominican Republic. When he came back, he pleaded poverty and made an application for a hardship payment.

David Sapiecha, prosecuting, said the former councillor also had a building society account into which £5,000 was paid – £2,000 above the limit at which benefits could be applied for.

He said Haydn-Higgins who was councillor for the Barnstaple ward of Forches and Whiddon Valley from 2003 to 2007, must have known that his wife was working, but in the section on the form dealing with that there was a complete absence of information.

The offences came to light when Julie Haydn- Higgins let slip to a council officer who visited the family home that she was working.

Haydn-Higgins of Queen Street, Ilfracombe, had denied both charges.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Sex Attack

2008-10-17T10:35:00.001+01:00

A FORMER Newton Abbot mayor has been arrested by police investigating an allegation he sexually assaulted a man.

Town councillor Allan Vizor, 63, of Newcross Park, Kingsteignton, has been questioned by police after a complaint was made to officers.

He was formally arrested under a section of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 after attending Torquay police station on the morning of Wednesday last week.

He was interviewed and has been released on police bail.

Cllr Vizor declined to comment yesterday.

Newton Abbot Town Council's clerk Phil Rowe confirmed he had spoken with Cllr Vizor and mayor Cllr David Corney-Walker, saying: "Both myself and the mayor are aware of the allegation and I have spoken to Cllr Vizor about the situation."

Cllr Corney-Walker confirmed he had been informed.

He declined to comment but said: "In such circumstances, I would always operate to the rule that the mayor is strictly neutral in every way, particularly where a criminal allegation has been made.

"I believe very much in British justice and that a person is innocent until proven guilty."

Cllr Vizor joined the town council in 1999 and held the mayoral role in 2003 to 2004.

He had previously worked as a traffic warden in Teignmouth.

A police spokesman said: "Police received a complaint of an alleged sexual assault that then led to a 63-year-old man from the Newton Abbot area being arrested in connection with that.

"He is currently on police bail to return to Torquay police station on Thursday, November 20."

Mr Vizor is also the Portreeve for the Court Leet and Court Barons to the Manorial Borough of Newton Abbot.

Source

Labour Councillor quits after porn arrest

2008-10-04T12:28:00.001+01:00

A Black Country councillor has resigned amid allegations he was in possession of child porn, it emerged today.

Walsall Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips stood down after being arrested and bailed by police.

The 53-year-old has represented the Birchills and Leamore ward for two years but resigned on Thursday.

Police are investigating claims that indecent images were found on equipment allegedly belonging to Mr Phillips. No charges have yet been brought.

When approached at his home in Eastbourne Street today Mr Phillips said: “Allegations have been made as a result of which I have resigned from the council, at this stage I felt that was the best course of action.”

Labour group leader councillor Tim Oliver confirmed the resignation saying: “Councillor Phillips in-formed me that he faces allegations linked to unsolicited but illicit material received through the internet.”

Source

Labour - Councillor Fraud

2008-10-03T12:59:00.001+01:00

Councillor John Holden will no longer be entitled to attend Labour group meetings or represent the party in any capacity.

The decision comes as colleagues moved to defend the councillor, claiming he is one of the hardest-working elected members of Highland Council.

The Inverness Courier exclusively revealed on its website yesterday afternoon that Councillor Holden's home in Drakies was searched on Monday in a joint operation by Northern Constabulary, Highland Council and fraud investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

It is understood various items, including computer equipment and paperwork, were seized during the swoop which is believed to involve benefit fraud.

The Labour councillor — who was elected in 2007 to represent the Inverness South ward — was later questioned for several hours by police officers. When asked about the incident Councillor Holden said: "I've been advised not to comment."

A statement issued on behalf of the Labour Party said: "The councillor in question has been suspended from office or representation of the Labour Party, pending the outcome any investigations.

"This includes suspension from membership of the Highland Council Labour Group.

"Mr Holden will neither be entitled to attend Labour group meetings nor to represent the group in any capacity.

"This suspension does not imply that the Labour Party has taken a view on the outcome of any investigation, but is designed to protect the party's interest until this matter is finalised."

The council's Labour leader, Councillor Jimmy Gray, could not be contacted for comment yesterday and Councillor Michael Foxley, leader of the new rainbow alliance, did not want to comment on hearsay allegations.

Councillor Jim Crawford, a member of the newly-formed Independent Members Group, defended his fellow ward member. "A lot of people in Inverness South think very highly of him," he said.

A spokesman for Northern Constabulary confirmed a man had been questioned in relation to allegations of fraud.

Both Highland Council and the DWP confirmed they were working with police on the ongoing investigation.

Source

Labour - Councillor Fraud

2008-09-23T15:55:00.001+01:00

WELL-KNOWN Paisley Councillor Tommy Williams has been charged with fraud.

Mr Williams is still entitled to attend council meetings and represent his constituents.

He will only stop being a councillor if he gets a criminal conviction, the Standards Commission bars him from office, or he resigns.

In December last year the Paisley Daily Express revealed that Mr Williams was sacked from his social work job at Glasgow City Council amid claims of financial irregularities.

Mr Williams, who is Renfrewshire Council’s Paisley North West representative, was charged over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: “A 55-year-old man is subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in relation to an alleged fraud.”

It is believed Mr Williams, who lives in Barshaw, has been charged in relation to his job as a community support worker at Glasgow City Council.

A source at Renfrewshire Council told us: “This is nothing to do with Tommy’s work as a councillor, but is linked to his job in the city.”

Mr Williams was a prominent figure in the local Labour group and, at a national level, he worked alongside Wendy Alexander during her successful campaign to become Labour's first female Scottish leader.

He was among many people who called for Paisley University’s name not to be changed to the University of the West of Scotland.

And he asked Renfrewshire Council to have a rethink on closing the Apex Centre in Ferguslie Park along with Morton Nursery School in Linwood and the nursery class at St Fergus’ Primary.

Source

Lib Dem MP = Assault

2008-09-21T08:06:00.000+01:00

BAY MP Adrian Sanders launched a 'shocking and unacceptable' 'violent assault' on fellow Liberal Democrat Mark Littlewood, according to eyewitnesses found by the Herald Express.

Mr Sanders is said to have gone for the former Lib Dem press chief's throat in Monday's incident, which hit national headlines at the party's annual conference in Bournemouth.

A Lib Dem spokesman told the Herald Express that Mr Sanders 'pushed' Mr Littlewood, who then fell over a small wall.

The incident was widely reported as 'a kerfuffle'.

Lib Dem officials also issued a brief statement, confirming Mr Sanders had offered a full apology to Mr Littlewood.

But, citing an agreement with his party and Mr Littlewood, the Bay MP has steadfastly refused to either expand on that statement or explain the full detail of what happened or what prompted his actions.

But the Herald Express has now spoken to two eye-witnesses, who claim the incident was more serious than originally reported.

Bristol-based Lib Dem councillor Steve Comer and party member Julian Harris have both published internet blogs revealing what they say is the full extent of 49-year-old Mr Sanders 'unacceptable' assault on Mr Littlewood, which happened outside the party conference venue in Bournemouth on Monday morning.

Cllr Comer, who represents the Eastville ward on Bristol City Council, said he was 'horrified' by Mr Sanders' attack.

He said: "Clearly, for whatever reason, the red mist descended. I was pretty horrified at the time."

In his account on the Lib Dem Voice website, Cllr Comer wrote: "I was handing out leaflets for a lunchtime fringe meeting I was chairing for my trade union when Adrian Sanders pushed past me, almost knocking me over.

"He grabbed Mark Littlewood by the throat, and shook him, Mark then fell backwards over a low wall. Following the attack, I stood between Adrian and Mark to prevent a repetition.

"Stewards and Bournemouth Centre security staff then intervened, and I understand the incident was recorded on CCTV.

"To dismiss this as a 'kerfuffle' is inaccurate. I see that a written apology has been accepted, so that should suffice, and if it was a case of 'red mist' then that has probably been admitted. However this sort of behaviour is unacceptable and as Liberal Democrats we should say so."

Mr Harris published his version of events under a headline which read: 'Exclusive: Eye-Witness Account of Adrian Sanders' Violence'

He wrote: "Yesterday morning Adrian Sanders, Lib Dem MP for Torbay, violently assaulted someone outside the Bournemouth International Centre."

He continued: "Mark Littlewood, ex-PR guru of Cowley Street, was lingering outside the centre.

"Adrian Sanders approached, confronted him, then after only several moments of conversation suddenly attacked him, trying to grab his throat and pushing him backwards over the low wall that he had been standing in front of."

He continued on his online blog: "How can the party claim it is 'not a huge deal' when one of their MPs physically attacks someone at conference?

"There were several other witnesses to the assault, mainly people from Liberal Democrat groups or charities handing out fliers, and the consensus among us was that this is shocking and unacceptable.

"At an event which is supposed to be promoting reasoned discussion and debate within the Liberal Democrats, I find it strange that an MP is essentially allowed to get away with physical assault."

When these versions of events appearing on-line were put to Mr Sanders at his Paignton home yesterday, he said: "There are several versions of the story out there, including one that I punched him, so if I deny or confirm something, then I am commenting on the incident, and I can't do that."

When Mr Sanders was asked if he owed his constituents an explanation for the incident, he said: "What they know is that I don't break my agreements, that is what they will take from this.

"I am not going to comment, my constituents now know that I don't break my word."

When asked if he was accountable to his constituents, whose votes elected him into office first in 1997, then again in 2001 and most recently in 2005, Mr Sanders said: "No more. I have said all I am going to say. Stop. I'm going to put the phone down."

Following Monday's events, Mr Sanders met with party whips who decided he could keep his position as deputy chief whip.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday refused to answer further questions put to them by the Herald Express.

We asked if the agreement that Mr Littlewood, Mr Sanders and the party had reached was in accordance with party disciplinary procedure, and asked the partyto respond to the eye-witness accounts.

But Lena Pietsch, head of media for the Lib Dems, would not comment further on the incident, or the allegations made by witnesses saying: "The party only made one official statement relating to this matter. It was issued on Monday, September 15."

That statement read: "Following an incident this morning, Adrian Sanders MP has offered Mark Littlewood a full, written and unreserved apology for his conduct. On this basis Mark Littlewood will not be involving the legal authorities. Mark Littlewood, Adrian Sanders and the party do not intend to comment any further."

A spokesman for the Bournemouth International Centre, where the incident took place said there was no CCTV footage of the incident.

Mr Littlewood said he would not comment further, saying: "I stick by the statement that I agreed with the press office."

Source

Conservative Councillors suspended after sex claims

2008-09-09T10:27:00.003+01:00

Hmm

Two married Conservative councillors have been suspended amid allegations they have been hosting group sex sessions at their Wolverhampton home.

To their neighbours, David and Carol Bourne are pillars of the community. Both represent Wednesfield North and have been heralded as leading lights in the campaign to triumph in the next general election.

Their future is uncertain after being suspended, amid allegations they have been inviting people to their Merry Hill home to take part in sex acts.

Reports have claimed that the pair have been charging people up to £150 to take part in lewd activities behind the curtains of their immaculate end-of-terrace house in Telford Gardens.

The couple are alleged to have advertised their “services” in an adult magazine using the same contact number as their political websites.

One shocked neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the Bournes appeared to be a respectable couple.

He said: “We can’t believe it. We always thought they had a lot of visitors but we just assumed they were friends.”

Last year David, a governor at St Bartholomew’s Primary in Penn, was unveiled as one of a trio of councillors picked by the Tories to head up their Black Country campaign team.

The 66-year-old – first elected in 2003 – is one of the authority’s senior councillors, as cabinet member for children and young people and a member of the standards committee.

Carol, aged 49, was elected last year as commentators hailed the David Cameron-effect for the party winning extra seats in the city.

Councillor Peter Bilson, deputy leader of Wolverhampton City Council until Labour was ousted in the May elections, said: “If this is fact they would lead to resignations. This is not good for the council.”

Leader of the Tory-Lib-Dem alliance at Wolverhampton City Council Neville Patten declined to comment, saying only: “They are suspended pending an investigation.”

The couple were today unavailable for comment.

Source

Labour Minister - Harassment

2008-09-07T06:04:00.001+01:00

A Government Minister’s career was hanging in the balance last night after he admitted bombarding a young female aide with suggestive phone messages.

Ivan Lewis, a 41-year-old Health Minister, issued a statement apologising for sending dozens of mobile phone text messages to Susie Mason, a 24-year-old assistant who worked in his private office in Whitehall.

After complaining to her bosses, Ms Mason was moved to a different job before resigning from the Civil Service to join an accountancy firm.

Apologetic: Ivan Lewis with estranged wife Juliette

‘He was obviously attracted to Susie, but his behaviour went well beyond acceptable office boundaries,’ a Whitehall source said.

‘It wasn’t just one or two messages - there were dozens, and the content was over-familiar. This must have spooked her enormously.’

It is understood the incident was reported to officials at the Cabinet Office at the time but no action was taken against Mr Lewis.

A Department of Health spokesman confirmed last night: ‘In 2007 a member of staff in the private office of Ivan Lewis informed her managers that she was unhappy with the nature of her working relationship with the Minister.

‘The situation was handled professionally and sensitively in full accordance with the employee’s wishes. She raised no formal complaint against the Minister and all the actions to resolve the matter were agreed with her. It was in that context that the decision was taken at the time not to pursue the matter further.

‘At her request she left the Minister’s office and was given another job in the department. She was a hard-working, extremely competent employee and we were sad to see her subsequently leave the department. The Minister in question apologises unreservedly.’

Aide Susie Mason, as pictured on her profile on the Facebook website

The revelation is the latest blow to Gordon Brown’s attempt to mount an autumn relaunch for his beleaguered administration, and evokes echoes of the way economic distress and sexual scandal combined to bring down John Major’s Government.

At the time Mr Lewis was making his unwelcome overtures in early 2007, he was approaching 40 and had just left his wife of 16 years, Juliette, and their two sons for a 50-year-old married councillor in his Bury constituency.

He separated from his wife in June 2006 after meeting Margaret Gibb at local political meetings. The relationship with Mrs Gibb is also believed to have now broken down.

Ms Mason, a slim, attractive brunette who is now 25, was appointed as one of Mr Lewis’s two Assistant Private Secretaries (APS) after he became a Minister at the Department of Health in May 2006.

After Ms Mason made her complaint, she was moved to a slightly more junior position elsewhere in the department before being offered a job of equivalent status to an APS, which lies near the bottom of the Civil Service career ladder but is regarded as a stepping stone to fast promotion.

Source and Full Story

Norfolk Tory jailed for rape

2008-09-01T15:09:00.000+01:00

A former Tory politician has been jailed for six and a half years for five sex offences involving three girls, including one charge of rape.

Stephen Mullins, 52, formerly of Links Avenue, Hellesdon, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today .

The former head chef in the kitchen of the Bull pub in Reepham Road, Hellesdon had earlier admitted two offences of indecent assault against one girl under 14, rape involving the same girl, sexual assault on another girl aged 14 and assault on another young girl.

Mullins was a member of Norwich North Conservative Association for about two years and a Hellesdon parish councillor for about the same time.

Labour Councillor - Homophobic attack

2008-08-27T10:55:00.001+01:00

A senior councillor who hurled a 'homophobic' insult at a political rival's mother has been cautioned by police.

Deputy leader of Barking and Dagenham council Liam Smith is said to have told the 60-year-old 'shut up you f***ing fat dyke' and 'go back to the farmyard' after a trivial argument in the council chamber.

The Labour councillor lost his temper after watching the Conservatives snatch a seat in a by-election last month.

When Sue Connelly, mother of local Tory councillor Neil, got into a minor row with him at the count he verbally abused her in front of shocked onlookers.

Mrs Connelly, a married grandmother of eight who is not gay, was shocked by the tirade.

She said: 'I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say in reply. To be spoken to like that in the council chamber in front of so many people was awful. I felt humiliated.

'I am not a lesbian but I have nothing against them and that word should not be used to insult anyone. It was vicious, nasty and homophobic. He should step down or be told to go.'

The abuse happened after a Conservative candidate won a by-election in the Chadwell Heath ward on 3 July, claiming only the party's second seat on the Labour-controlled authority.

The Tories have struggled to win seats on the council where the British National Party is now the official opposition with 12 councillors.

The insult was reported to police and investigated by officers as a hate crime. A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service but lawyers decided Mr Smith should receive a conditional caution rather than being prosecuted.

He was ordered to write a letter of apology to Mrs Connelly and warned about his future conduct.

Mrs Connelly, of Romford, works as the constituency secretary for Conservative shadow home affairs minister Andrew Rosindell.

Mr Rosindell, MP for Romford, said: 'This was a totally inappropriate way for the deputy leader of a council to behave in public.

'To insult awoman of Mrs Connelly's age, a grandmother, like that was outrageous. Mrs Connelly is a nice woman who is very popular locally and she did not deserve this.

'It is bizarre that an elected representative from a party that professes to be tolerant of people whatever their lifestyle should use language like that.'

The council's standards board was alerted to the comments but Mr Smith remains the deputy leader. He declined to comment on the row.

A CPS spokeswoman said it 'takes homophobic crime very seriously but in this case, we decided the word 'dyke' was not being used in a homophobic way against Mrs Connelly.'

Source

Conservative Councillor - Harassment

2008-08-14T11:39:00.001+01:00

Paul Peccioli, 55, "reacted badly" when Julia Pickup, whom he met online, told him she thought they should stop seeing each other, a court heard.

When Miss Pickup, 51, told him that their six-month relationship was over he banged his head against a wall then held up an airgun, telling Miss Pickup he would "deck her if she was a man", Leicester Crown Court was told.

The court heard that over the next few days Peccioli, a former Conservative member of Daventry District Council, slapped Miss Pickup's legs and threatened to take an overdose.

When she tried to go to work one morning, four days after she had ended their relationship, Peccioli blocked her path.

But he allowed her to call in to explain her absence. Two workmates realised something was wrong and went to her home.

When they arrived at the property in Ullesthorpe, Leicestershire, Miss Pickup escaped but Peccioli chased after them in his own car.

Mr Thatcher told the court: "She ran out to the waiting car. When Peccioli realised what was happening he ran out after her, screaming."

Miss Pickup's colleague did not know the village and turned into a cul-de-sac.

Peccioli tried to open the doors of the car, forcing Miss Pickup's colleague to mount the pavement. They managed to drive away, but Peccioli was following at high speeds.

Miss Pickup's colleague drove to the nearest police station where Peccioli was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and blamed his driving on "emotional upset".

The couple met via the internet in March last year, but Miss Pickup ended the relationship in September after Peccioli became "possessive and overbearing".

Peccioli was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a restraining order that prevents him from going within 50 metres of Miss Pickup's home or contacting her.

Judge Michael Pert QC said: "I am prepared to accept that at this late stage of your life you have made a fool of yourself rather than being an inherently dangerous person.

"But that is of little consolation to your victim, and I have to take steps to protect her. Your behaviour during this incident was disgraceful."

Source

Conservative Councillor - Theft

2008-08-10T06:59:00.000+01:00

Mr Preest represents the Lydney North Ward of the county council

A Gloucestershire county councillor has resigned his position on the county's police authority after accepting a caution for theft.

Alan Preest, a Conservative councillor, was arrested on Friday in connection with an incident at a supermarket in Lydney and cautioned.

A Gloucestershire Police Authority spokesman said the councillor had resigned with immediate effect.

Mr Preest was unavailable for comment on Saturday.

He represents the Lydney North Ward of the county council.

Conservative councillor guilty of rigging election votes

2008-07-25T17:27:00.001+01:00

ANOTHER former Peterborough city councillor stood in disgrace yesterday after being found guilty of cheating his way to election victory by forging votes.

Ex-Conservative Abdul Razaq is facing the almost certain prospect of jail after a jury convicted him of setting up a vote-rigging "production line" to guarantee success in the 2004 council elections.

The 52-year-old Peterborough Regional College lecturer becomes the fifth person, and the second former councillor, to be convicted of electoral fraud for interfering with votes in the city's Central ward.

Earlier this year, Mohammed Choudhary, who became Peterborough's first Asian mayor in 1997, was jailed for nine months after he was found guilty of forgery.

Jurors have yet to reach a verdict on Razaq's co-defendant and ex-mayor of Peterborough Raja Akhtar, who denies similar charges.

Razaq's crimes were uncovered after voters in the Central ward complained they had been turned away from polls in June 2004 because their ballots had already been cast by post.

A huge police operation, which was to last four years and cost an estimated £1 million, found the father-of-four's handwriting on 39 applications for postal and proxy votes.

Prosecutors at King's Lynn Crown Court said Razaq had systematically hijacked voters' poll cards.

Jurors were told he filled in the cards so that postal votes would be sent not to the electors themselves, but to the addresses of his own friends and relatives, setting up a fraudulent "production line" to sway the ballot in his favour.

Among his victims were husband and wife Jaswinder Kaur and Gopal Singh, of Russell Street, Peterborough, who denied giving Razaq the authority to fill in their poll cards.

The court also heard from couples Sadhia Yaqub and Parvaiz Akhtar, and Sameem and Nadeem Dar, all of Gladstone Street, who said they had never heard of the addresses where their ballot papers were sent.

Razaq never denied it was his handwriting on the poll cards, but his defence counsel insisted he was merely trying to help people get involved with the electoral process.

Mohammed Latif, defending, said: "The poll cards were brought back to (Razaq) by canvassers or, in other cases, he saw the voters himself.

"He filled in the addresses and gave (the cards) back to the canvassers to be signed by the voters. If that is all that happened, he has done nothing wrong; there is no forgery."

The jury, however, disagreed and found Razaq guilty on six out of eight counts of forgery after nearly 20 hours of deliberation over four days.

Four of the convictions were unanimous verdicts while the remaining two were by majorities of 10 to two. He was cleared of two further forgery charges.

Razaq, of Newark Avenue, Peterborough, showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read out.

Judge Alasdair Darroch told him he would almost certainly be sent to prison when he returned to court for sentencing at a later date.

He said: "I have to give you this very clear warning: these sorts of offences almost always result in a custodial sentence."

Source

Conservative - Gay Sex in Public Toilet

2008-07-25T10:24:00.002+01:00

A Conservative councillor in Harrow has appeared in court charged with engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory.

Robert Benson did not enter a plea at Harrow Magistrates' Court last week.

He has been suspended from the party but remains a councillor.

Council leader David Ashton told the Harrow Observer:

"Firstly, this is a matter for the courts. Secondly, as Conservative group leader, I have suspended Councillor Benson from the group.

"If somebody is charged with a criminal offence, they are suspended as part of our standard procedure."

Mr Benson, 41, is accused of giving oral sex to another man in a public toilet in south Harrow on June 25th.

He was arrested and bailed until July 8th, when he was charged.

A 56-year-old from Essex man was issued with a caution.

Mr Benson's case will be heard on 30th July at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

Source

Conservative Councillor - Harassment

2008-07-20T13:38:00.003+01:00

The Tory Party's Parliamentary candidate for Watford, who quit following his arrest by officers probing a three-year hate campaign, has now been told he should stand down as a councillor.

Yesterday, the Watford Observer exclusively revealed Ian Oakley had been arrested and then bailed by police investigating the harassment of several Liberal Democrat councillors in the town.

Mr Oakley was arrested on Friday and a Conservative spokesman last night confirmed he had stood down as the party’s parliamentary candidate for Watford.

Now there have been calls for Mr Oakley to stand down as a councillor in Northwood.

The police investigation, nicknamed Operation Tuition, has been coordinated by Hertfordshire Constabulary's major crime task force.

The allegations relate to the sustained harassment of Liberal Democrats in the town, some of whom have suffered vandalism to their personal property and received malicious phone calls.

Several councillors have had abuse scratched into their cars and their tyres slashed, while others have had vile graffiti daubed close to their home.

Some councillors have even had pornography sent to their houses.

Nascot councillor Mark Watkin has also been the victim of a vicious poison pen letter campaign that made unfounded sexual allegations about him.

Police yesterday confirmed a 31-year-old man had been arrested in relation to the incident.

Mr Oakley has not been charged and is now on police bail pending further enquiries.

Calls for Mr Oakley to resign his Northwood seat have been led by Councillor Mike Cox, leader of Hillingdon Council's Lib Dems.

He said: "If he's taken the decision to resign from Watford then he should certainly resign from Hillingdon where he has far more responsibility for direct relations with the public."

Source

Update 14/10/08

The Conservative party was urged yesterday to conduct an inquiry into a hate campaign carried out by one of its former parliamentary candidates against his Liberal Democrat opponents.

Ian Oakley, 31, who was selected in the Labour-held seat of Watford in 2006, was sentenced yesterday to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

St Albans magistrates said his "vile and persistent" campaign, including harassment and criminal damage aimed at dozens of Lib Dem supporters and councillors, was an attempt "to pervert the democratic process". Calling for the inquiry, his principal target, Sal Brinton, the Lib Dem candidate for Watford, said the Tories locally and nationally have never apologised nor responded in any way since Oakley pleaded guilty in August.

Full Story and Source

Lib Dem - Drink driving - Again

2008-07-18T20:22:00.003+01:00

Greasy and oily and still sucking in some people

A councillor has been thrown out of his party after being caught drink driving while almost three times over the legal limit.

Hugh O’Hanlon, 56, was suspended by Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill as soon as he informed the Liberal Democrat leader about his arrest.

O’Hanlon, who was returned to his Tudor ward seat in this year’s May elections, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance at Watford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He has been banned from driving and faces a community order as well as a hefty fine.

Despite allegations he performed council duties while drunk, O’Hanlon – who receives an annual allowance of £7,209 from Watford Borough Council – said he will not resign from his seat.

He said: “I won’t be resigning under any circumstances.

“My council work is exceptional. I have had letters about how good a councillor I am, that’s excellent.

“I have got to put my hands up in the air and say I am extremely sorry.

“I have been an idiot. It’s my fault. I cannot do anything else, but there were a lot of reasons which brought that into line.”

Watford magistrates heard O’Hanlon was stopped by police on his driveway on Thursday, June 19, having driven his wife’s blue Fiat Punto the few hundred yards from the Tudor Arms.

Lynette Woodrow, prosecuting, told the court: “He got out of the driver’s door and was seen to put something in his mouth.

“When questioned, he said it was a mint and told the officers they would now have to wait 20 minutes to breathalyse him.

“He appeared drunk and was being argumentative.”

When he was arrested at 6.35pm, O’Hanlon asked: “Who called you?”

He was taken to Watford Police Station, where he gave a alcohol reading of 104. The legal limit is 35.

It is not the first time O’Hanlon, a governor of Parkgate Junior Infants School, has been caught drink driving. In 1999 he was banned for a year for the same offence.

Tony Irving, defending, said in mitigation O’Hanlon had taken the “foolish” decision to drive the short distance home because he cannot walk more than 200 yards since suffering a stroke in November.

He said his client suffered from depression as a result of the condition but his arrest had brought home his need for help, which was being dealt with by O’Hanlon’s GP.

When it came to driving without insurance, the court heard O’Hanlon thought he was covered, but later discovered the policy was only for his wife and daughter.

O’Hanlon’s alleged drunken behaviour was first brought to the council’s attention last year when he was reported to have overturned a table in a fit of rage at the Tudor Arms.

He was barred from the pub following the incident but then allowed back after it was said to be a case of “mistaken identity”.

Mayor Thornhill said that was the one and only time the council has received any complaint about the “well-liked” councillor.

She said: “We went round to speak to the landlady but by then it had been sorted out and no further action was taken.

“We have never had a single formal complaint about him, but after the pub incident I made it quite clear that any more of that sort of stuff and people would start to make assumptions.”

The Mayor, who was unaware of O’Hanlon’s previous spent drink driving conviction, said there was no excuse for his crime.

She added: “The only good thing to come out of all this is that he is facing the fact he is a victim of alcohol abuse and is doing something about it.”

Asked if there is any way back for him into the party, she said: “The most important thing is for him to get on with being a good councillor, it’s up to Hugh.

“The ball’s in his court.”

O’Hanlon could carry on representing the Tudor ward as an independent.

Indeed the council’s website has already changed his personal profile and now lists him as an independent.

However, the Liberal Democrat hierarchy has been criticised for allowing O’Hanlon to stand for re-election in May.

Amanda Grimston, a Conservative councillor for the Leggatts ward, said she complained the Tudor councillor had arrived “drunk” and late for a meeting last year – accusations O’Hanlon denies.

Councillor Grimston said: “I think what he has done is an utter disgrace. I do not care if you are Labour or Conservative or a Liberal Democrat.

“It is not the behaviour of a local councillor. I feel he should be struck off.”

Leader of the Conservative group, Andrew Mortimer, said it was obvious to all that O’Hanlon needed help.

He said: “He has clearly fought with the problem for some time and I am very sorry that it has caught up with him. Of all the people I know in the council it was clear he had a problem.”

However, Mr O’Hanlon described allegations of being drunk in a council meeting as “absolute nonsense”.

He said: “There’s not one person in that town hall that’s seen me drunk.

“I do know what she [Councillor Grimston] is talking about. It’s where I had been for a beer before a meeting and that's it, end of story.

“As far as being drunk, no way. Not in a million years.”

As well as a minimum 12-month ban, magistrates must decide what severity of fine to impose on O’Hanlon.

Hanlon, who can also expect a medium length community order, will be sentenced on Tuesday, August 5.

Source

UKIP MEP - Fraud

2008-07-17T10:20:00.001+01:00

AN EAST of England Euro MP last night said he had “nothing to hide” after it emerged a member of his own party had complained to police about alleged “financial irregularities”.

Jeffrey Titford, a former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), was reported to Essex Police after allegations were made against him and his political advisor, Stuart Gulleford.

The pair are now under investigation by police, but they and UKIP have both dismissed the allegations.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Titford and himself, Mr Gulleford said: “The police are more than welcome to talk to us anytime they like. We have got nothing to hide. The door is open.”

Last month, fellow Euro MP Tom Wise, who was voted in as a UKIP MEP for the East of England, but is now an Independent, was arrested by Bedfordshire Police on suspicion of obtaining money by deception. He has been released on police bail pending an investigation.

The investigation into Mr Titford and Mr Gulleford was triggered by John West, chairman of UKIP in Ipswich and East Suffolk, who recently failed in a bid to stand as a Euro MP.

Mr West, also a UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate for Ipswich North and Suffolk Central, told the EADT he contacted police over the alleged “financial irregularities” after someone came to him with allegations of illegal activities.

He said he felt obliged to report the allegations which involved senior members of the UKIP party.

A spokesman for Essex police said: “We can confirm we have received a complaint from Mr West and it is under investigation.”

But the UKIP party stood by their members denying there was anything in the allegations.

A spokesman said: “We have received these allegations at senior level some time ago. They were investigated and found to be completely without foundation and we wish to make no further comment on that.

“Jeffery Titford and Stuart Gulleford are both long serving members of good character.”

A retired Frinton funeral director, Mr Titford was born in West Mersea,and was a local councillor in the Clacton area in the 1970s.

He became involved with UKIP in late 1997. He was elected an MEP in June 1999 and was re-elected in June 2004. He successfully stood for the Party leadership in March 2000, a position he held until October 2002.

Source

Tory councillor admits rape

2008-07-10T18:56:00.001+01:00

A Tory politician has lost his job and could be kicked out of the party after admitting five sex offences involving three girls, one of them being a charge of rape.

Stephen Mullins, 52, formerly of Links Avenue, Hellesdon, has been a member of Norwich North Conservative Association (NNCA) for about two years and a Hellesdon parish councillor for about the same time.

Mullins, who worked as head chef in the kitchen of the Bull pub in Reepham Road, Hellesdon for 17 years until April this year, appeared at Norwich Crown Court.

He admitted two offences of indecent assault against one girl under 14, between August 22, 1999 and August 21, 2000, and between August 22, 2000 and August 21, 2002. He also admitted rape involving the same girl between August 22, 1999 and August 21, 2002.

He also admitted sexual assault by penetration on April 3, 2008 on another girl aged 14 and assault by penetration on April 14, 2008 on another young girl.

He was remanded in custody to await a pre-sentence report and is due to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on September 1.

Jonathan Seeley, prosecuting, said that counts one and two were sample counts, while the rest were specific allegations.

Commenting after the case, Shelagh Gurney, chairman of the NNCA, said: “In view of his admission of guilt and the severity of the offences, I'm taking legal action with a view to releasing him from party membership.”

Patrick Cutter, landlord at the Bull pub, said: “Obviously I don't condone what he has done, and as a business we want to draw a line under it. He won't be working for me anymore.”

Broadland district councillor and Hellesdon parish councillor Tony Adams was at court yesterday, and said the council would be looking to replace Mullins on the parish council either by a by-election or by cooption.

Mr Adams said: “I would like to extend my sympathies to his partner and to the girls he abused.

“My understanding is that he will be automatically debarred from continuing to serve as a parish councillor, because he will have already served more than three months in jail, whatever the sentence.”

Mullins is believed to have been living with a partner, but is not understood to have any children.

Source

Conservative Paedophile sentenced

2008-06-26T17:28:00.001+01:00

A FORMER Councillor has escaped jail for downloading thousands of child porn images.

Peter O'Brian, 46, formally of Drakes Way, Hatfield, was given a three year community order today at Cheshunt Magistrates Court and is attending rehabilitation for his sick addiction.

The ex-councillor pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

The paedophile was arrested at Stanstead Airport in October, after the images were discovered on a council computer while he was on holiday.

A police investigation revealed more than 6,000 images and movies on the laptop of the former chairman of Welwyn Hatfield Conservative Association and representative for Welham Green.

Detective Inspector Paul Doran, head of the Paedophile Unit, said: "We treat images depicting the abuse of children extremely seriously and will always take action against those responsible.

"Viewing or downloading images of this nature is not a victimless crime - those children have been exploited and are victims. "Despite O'Brien holding an important position in the community, he thought it was acceptable to view these images when it was clearly not.

"By admitting the offences he has gone some way in acknowledging his actions were unacceptable and he has made a positive step by attending a rehabilitation programme to manage his sexual interest."

O'Brien has also been given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bans him from buying or using software which would remove evidence of his activity on a computer.

He has also been disqualified from working with children, fined £300 in costs and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' register.

Paul added: "I would like to express my thanks to Welwyn and Hatfield Council who have supported us through our investigation and I am grateful for their co-operation."

Source

Conservative - Drink Driving

2008-06-18T09:38:00.001+01:00

07:00 - 16 June 2008

A councillor convicted of drink-driving has apologised to his Clevedon constituents for letting them down.

Stanley Vyce, pictured, a Conservative member of North Somerset Council, was stopped by police at 5.15am on May 24 after returning from a party in Bristol.

At a hearing at North Somerset Magistrates' Court, it was revealed that 28-year-old Mr Vyce, of Newlands Green, Clevedon, had 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the limit is 35mg.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was banned from driving for a year. He was also ordered to pay a £250 fine, a £15 victim surcharge and £60 costs.

Mr Vyce, who has been suspended from North Somerset's Conservative group in line with national party rules, said he was sorry for what he had done and felt embarrassed and humiliated by his court appearance.

He apologised to residents who voted for him in last May's elections.

Mr Vyce had been out with work friends in Bristol on the night he was stopped by police in Northern Way, Clevedon. They had visited a restaurant and a bar before going back to a friend's house.

The councillor, who joined the Conservative party at the age of 16 while a student at Backwell School, said: "I did not believe I was over the limit when I drove home.

"I did have a drink of Blackthorn cider but was also drinking soft drinks and the test showed I was about two-thirds of a pint over the legal limit.

"I feel very stupid about what has happened. I am really sorry and want to apologise to the local people who voted for me.

"This was a strong Labour seat and the people of the town put their trust and belief in me and the Conservative party, and I feel I have let them down."

Mr Vyce, a pensions administrator, said it was difficult to attend meetings without a car so he was reconsidering his position as a councillor for the town's central ward.

Council leader Nigel Ashton said the Conservative group would discuss Mr Vyce's drink-drive conviction at its meeting on Tuesday.

Source

UKIP Candidate on rape charges

2008-06-13T19:46:00.002+01:00

A FORMER royal butler has been charged with 18 sex offences against boys.

Paul Kidd, of Grasscroft Road, Stalybridge, has been accused of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.

He appeared before Tameside Magistrates yesterday and was remanded in custody, but will making an application for bail tomorrow.

Kidd, 54, stood for election as a UK Independent Party candidate in Dukinfield and Stalybridge last year and received 283 votes - 9.7 per cent.

Some of the alleged offences go back three decades but others are recent.

Statement

In a statement Greater Manchester Police, who have conducted a three-month inquiry, said: "A 54-year-old man has been charged with 18 offences after allegations of child abuse were made against him.

"Paul Kidd has been charged with nine counts of rape, four counts of gross indecency, two counts of indecent assault and three of sexual assault.

"The charges relate to an historic report received by the police that a man who is now 41 had been sexually assaulted in 1981. A 17-year-old boy also alleges he was abused."

Police seized a computer allegedly containing more than 1,000 images of suspected child porn.

John Cooke, a spokesman for the Tameside branch of UKIP, said: "Last year Mr Kidd stood in Stalybridge and did very well for us. He came third and it cost the Tories a seat they were hoping to take from Labour.

"He is very well known in Stalybridge and well liked. These charges against him have come as a huge shock, the party knew nothing about it.

"He was not intending to stand for us this year as he has been ill and is due to go into hospital for an operation.

"As part of his work doing talks about his time with the Royal Family he does a lot of cruises."

Kidd appears on a website for after-dinner speakers and his fee is set at £2,000 to £4,000.

After leaving school he joined the Royal Navy as a silver service waiter looking after the captain and officers.

Butler

In 1976, he was appointed butler to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and served there for six years until he transferred to Clarence House to serve the Queen Mother as senior footman.

In 1979 he was awarded the Most Noble Order of Merit by the West German President on a state visit. He is one of only 32 people in the world to hold the award.

He met and looked after three US presidents and every King and Queen in Europe.

In 1985 he had to end his royal service due to illness - but made a complete recovery.

He has appeared on television chat shows in Britain and the US.

Kidd was arrested in London.

Source

Labour - Drink driving

2008-06-13T09:43:00.001+01:00

A SENIOR councillor at the centre of a drink-driving investigation was today suspended from the Labour Party.

Coun Eddie McAtominey was arrested after a crash in Victoria Road West, Hebburn, on Monday night.

He is one of the longest-serving members of South Tyneside Council, and the borough's representative on Northumbria Police Authority,

Coun McAtominey, representative for Hebburn South, was heading towards his home in Sullivan Walk, Hebburn, when he was involved in what police called "a minor crash."

He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and taken to South Shields police station.

Coun McAtominey today denied the allegations and said he'd 'fight' them.

But this afternoon, Neil Fleming, spokesman for Labour North, said: "As of this morning, Coun Eddie McAtominey has been suspended from the Labour Party.

"That means he can hold no office within the party until the investigation is complete."

Source

Conservative MEP - Expense Claims

2008-06-05T18:07:00.001+01:00

Giles Chichester has resigned as leader of David Cameron's Conservative Euro MPs after breaking European Parliament rules on political expenses.

He threw in the towel after facing an ultimatum from Mr Cameron to justify channelling more than £400,000 in staff allowances to a family business of which he is a paid director.

Mr Chichester stayed on as a Tory MEP, but stepped down from the top job to limit embarrassment to Mr Cameron - who had asked him only three months ago to clean up Tory MEP allowances in the wake of a scandal at Westminster over MP Derek Conway.

In a statement, the Conservative Party said Mr Chichester stepped down after chairman Caroline Spelman asked him to provide a full explanation of the arrangements put in place to fund his staff.

Mr Chichester chose to step down with immediate effect to prepare his report to the European Parliament authorities, said the party.

Mr Cameron said: "Giles Chichester is right to stand down as leader of our MEPs to prepare a full explanation of how his office is funded.

"Just as I expect our MPs to adhere to the highest standards, so must our MEPs.

"The tax-paying public have a right to know how their money is being spent and politicians have a duty to ensure it is spent properly."

Deputy leader Philip Bushill-Matthews will take over as acting leader.

Labour councillor - Fraud

2008-05-31T06:26:00.001+01:00

A FORMER Cambridge councillor has been tagged and put under curfew for falsely using a disabled parking badge.

Louise Downham, who stepped down as a Labour member of the city council at elections in May, was caught by her own council using a pass which belonged to a former neighbour.

Louise Downham

Downham, 37, represented King's Hedges and was known as a community-minded councillor. On the Cambridge Labour website, she listed "making life easier for the disabled" as one of her aims.

Downham, of Dunsmore Close, Cambridge, pictured, was arrested in April after complaining about a parking ticket left on her Seat Ibiza. City council parking officers looked into the complaint and discovered she was using the badge falsely.

Appearing before magistrates in Cambridge, Downham pleaded guilty to a charge of using a false instrument between June 21 2007 and January 8 2008 with intent it be accepted as genuine.

She was tagged for a two-month 8pm to midnight curfew and ordered to pay £60 towards court costs.

The offence was exposed when Christopher Casboult, who works for Cambridge City Council parking services, looked into the complaint about the ticket, which was issued in January this year. He discovered Downham's vehicle had been issued with other tickets previously - which she had also challenged.

Photo records showed the same blue badge was displayed in the vehicle in January as in June last year. The only difference was the expiry date had been altered.

It turned out the badge had been registered to Downham's former next-door neighbour, who had emigrated to the USA three years earlier. It expired in July 2007.

Police arrested Downham at her home on April 14 and she concocted a series of stories to explain away her use of the badge, magistrates were told.

Eventually she came clean and admitted: "I'm bang to rights. It's not easy doing this job and being a mother. I had to use the badge to get to meetings on time."

Downham was described in court as a dedicated volunteer and charity worker who suffers from narcolepsy, a condition which induces sudden sleep.

A campaigning group for the disabled said the sentence handed to Downham was not tough enough, as parking spaces are essential for disabled people.

A spokeswoman for the United Kingdom's Disabled People's Council said: "It's hardly a deterrent - a tag for two months. Disabled people often rely on available car parking spaces in order to do things, go to work, do the weekly shop and have a life, as they often have no choice."

Councillor Lewis Herbert, leader of the Labour group on Cambridge City Council, said Downham had decided to stand down in autumn 2007.

Of the court case, he said: "It is not something I had any knowledge about. It is only a year since she had a new baby and I think she was finding it very difficult to balance family life with quite a demanding ward."

Source

Lib Dem Councillor quits over sex offence

2008-05-27T17:30:00.001+01:00

A councillor has resigned after being arrested and cautioned by police for a "sexual offence".

Liberal Democrat Eric Griffiths, 64, has stood down less than a month after he was re-elected to Ceredigion council on 1 May.

Dyfed-Powys Police said a 64-year-old man was arrested and cautioned for a sexual offence on Saturday.

The leader of the council's Lib Dems confirmed Mr Griffiths, who represented Aberystwyth's Rheidol ward, had quit.

Mr Griffiths stood down at the weekend.

"I can confirm the resignation, which took place over the weekend," said Ceredig Davies. "I have no further statement to make at the moment."

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "On Saturday, 24 May a 64-year-old male from the Aberystwyth area was arrested and cautioned for a sexual offence."

Mr Griffiths was unavailable for comment.

Ceredigion council, which has a total of 42 seats, is run by a coalition of independents, Lib Dems and Labour.

Until Mr Griffiths's resignation, there were 10 Lib Dem councillors. His departure leaves the political make-up of the council finely balanced, with 21 members of the ruling coalition, and 20 others.

Source

SNP - Drink driving shame

2008-05-25T08:45:00.001+01:00

THE Head of Wigtown Licensing Board, Robert Higgins, appeared in handcuffs in Stranraer Sheriff Court on Monday charged with drink driving.

A drink too many at a golf charity event saw him drive home with part of a fence he had demolished en route stuck in the framework of his car.

The Leader of the SNP on Dumfries and Galloway Council, who spent the weekend in police cells, was found by officers on Friday night sitting in his wrecked car outside his home, 'Davaar' in Royal Crescent, Stranraer, smelling of alcohol after leaving a trail of destruction behind him on the A75 Euro-Route.

The embarrassed Councillor stood before Sheriff Tom Millar to plead guilty to the three charges.

The Sheriff fined the SNP Leader of the Council £900, banned him from driving for two years and recommended that he undertake an Alcohol Rehabilitation Course.

Sixty-one year old Cllr Higgins, who won his seat on the Council at last year's May elections, resigned the following day as the chair of the Wigtown Licensing Board and as Council leader of the SNP.

In a statement to the full Council on Tuesday, Cllr Higgins said: "I have advised the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council that on Friday, 16th May 2008 I was charged with a number of road traffic offences.

"I appeared at Stranraer Sheriff Court on Monday 19th May and pled guilty to three charges. That is a matter of public record.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions and the consequences. I deeply regret these offences which, apart from fixed penalties for speeding, is my first and, having learned a very salutary lesson, will be my last. I apologise and have asked for the forgiveness of my family and friends.

"I have advised the Scottish National Party of the situation, and have resigned as leader of the SNP Group on Dumfries and Galloway Council with immediate effect. I have also resigned as Chairman and as a member of the Wigtown Licensing Board.

"I apologise to my constituents and assure them that I shall, as always, make every effort to continue to represent them to the best of my ability as a member of Dumfries and Galloway Council.

"Any damage caused to the reputation of Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Scottish National Party is also deeply regretted."

Cllr Higgins was charged with driving without due care and attention on the A75 near Whitecrook Farm, Glenluce, of losing control of his vehicle, travelling along the nearside verge for 81 metres, colliding with and damaging several road hazard marker posts, then crossing onto the opposite carriageway and colliding with a wire fence and a road diversion sign.

He was also charged with failing to stop at the scene and failing to provide two samples of breath for analysis at Stranraer Police Station.

Depute Procurator Fiscal Kay Jardine told the Court that at 7pm on the night in question Higgins was observed by witnesses at the County Golf Course Clubhouse, near Glenluce, as being "under the influence of alcohol and unsteady on his feet." She said that as Higgins had spent much of the day playing golf, bar staff were surprised at his condition as, to their knowledge, he had only drunk two pints of Guinness. But, as bottles of whisky were among the prizes, the staff assumed the Councillor had been sampling the prizes before deciding to drive the eight miles home to Stranraer.

Half an hour later drivers began phoning the police to report debris strewn across the A75 Euro route near Whitecrook Farm road end, a mile from the golf course exit. Cars were seen taking evasive action to avoid hitting the debris and one driver was witnessed stopping to move the debris off the road. But the inebriated Councillor had continued to drive on into Stranraer where, at 7.40pm, his badly damaged car was picked up by a CCTV operator when turning off London Road into Royal Crescent.

The Fiscal said: "The police arrived to find the accused's car with most of the front bumper missing, the air bags deflated and a wooden stob wedged in the offside wheel arch."

Councillor Higgins was then asked to get out of the car but initially he had difficulty doing this due to the damage to the driver's door. Police reported he was "smelling of alcohol, slurring his words, and unsteady on his feet" and he was taken by police car to Stranraer Police Station.

When there, he was asked to provide two specimens of breath for analysis, but the Cllr sucked on the tube instead of blowing into it. He also repeatedly took the tube out of his mouth although instructed not to do so. All attempts to get a satisfactory sample failed and the Cllr was accused by the police of "non co-operation." But Cllr Higgins had replied that he had not failed to co-operate, but his attempts to give a sample were compromised by his need to go to the toilet.

His defence solicitor Paul Feeney said in mitigation that his client was a hard working councillor who was embarrassed to find himself in court for the first time, after driving for 45 years. He said the Councillor recollects having a drink with friends at the golf course but admitted it was an "unexplained act of folly" to then drive home, compounded by his failure to stop after the accident. Mr Feeney added that by the time Cllr Higgins was taken to the Police Station he was in a "state of shock and disorientation" and had little recollection of his attempts to give a breath sample.

The lawyer concluded: "This is a sorry incident and Mr Higgins wants to put it behind him as soon as possible."

Mr Higgins has served Wigtownshire as a Councillor for 15 years.

Source

Liberal councillor denies race charge

2008-05-25T08:31:00.004+01:00

Is this the face of a racist? ROFL

A city councillor has been accused of a racially aggravated offence.

Canterbury cllr Jo Calvert-Mindell, 51, a former policewoman who lives in Longmeadow Way, Canterbury, appeared before Folkestone magistrates on Wednesday charged under section five of the Public Order Act and section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The Crown Prosecution Service claims that on November 8 last year, in Canterbury, “she used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress which was racially aggravated”.

Cllr Calvert-Mindell, who represents St Stephen’s ward, denied the charge and the hearing was adjourned until August 6 for a trial, which is expected to last two days.

Source

Conservative Councillor accused of benefit fraud

2008-05-16T19:13:00.001+01:00

A TORY councillor will become the fourth elected representative in Waltham Forest to appear before a court since September.

Former Conservative group deputy leader Graham Sinclair, who represents the Chingford Green ward, is accused of benefit fraud, along with his wife Deborah de la Nougerede.

The couple have allegedly claimed about £8,000 in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit despite Cllr Sinclair receiving a member's allowance.

Cllr Sinclair's case will not be heard at Waltham Forest Magistrates Court because he is a magistrate.

He will appear instead at Thames Magistrates Court in Bow, next Friday (23).

Cllr Sinclair is the fourth Waltham Forest councillor to be prosecuted in the last eight months.

His prosecution will mean that members from all three political groupings on the council have recently appeared before courts.

In September Miranda Grell was found guilty of falsely claiming an election rival was a paedophile while on the campaign trail in the 2006 local elections.

Clllr Graham Sinclair

Ms Grell was fined £1,000 and forced to give up her council seat.

A former rising star in the Labour party as former aide to the Deputy Mayor of London's, Ms Grell's political career is now in tatters.

In March Liberal Democrat councillor Imran Abrahim was found guilty of assaulting his teenage wife.

Ambrahim, who had already been kicked out of the Lib Dem group, has since resigned from the council.

In April the Mayor of Waltham Forest Liaquat Ali and his wife were fined for taking their child out of school during term time. The fine was increased to £200 each by the court because the couple had allegedly not paid the original £50.

But the increased fines were later withdrawn after the council's legal team succeeded in persuading magistrates that he had paid the fine after all and a cheque from him had been found in a town hall safe.

Source

Labour councillor illegally claimed benefits

2008-05-16T19:06:00.001+01:00

FORMER Hucknall Labour member Simon Harris illegally received benefits after being elected to Ashfield District Council five years ago.

But he failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions about this new 'job,' Nottingham Magistrates Court heard.

Harris (41), of Hucknall's Washdyke Lane, admitted charges of failing to notify changes in circumstances relating to benefit and not notifying the extent of his earnings.

The court heard that the total he obtained through benefit fraud was £5,598.52.

The magistrates adjourned sentence until next Friday (May 23) for a report to be prepared and Harris was given unconditional bail.

Sheila Mott (prosecuting) said Harris put in a successful claim for reduced earnings allowance after he suffered an accident in 1987. He subsequently became a self-employed taxi driver.

Then, in 2003, he failed to declare becoming a councillor or work he began on a self-employed basis with IBA, who provide equipment for retail firms.

Questioned on March 22 last year, he admitted the offences.

Helen Rooks (defending) said Harris, who had no previous convictions, became entitled to the allowance after suffering an accident to his leg while a Post Office employee.

."He still has problems with the leg," said Miss Rooks. "He cannot stand for long periods and cannot kneel at all."

She told the court that for a time, Harris could not work at all and was having to attend hospital.

But he obtained re-training and started working as a taxi driver – a job he was still doing now, said Miss Rooks..

Then, as well as becoming a councillor, he did some work through friends for IBA, which would have taken him beyond the capacity of the reduced earnings allowance.

"He feels that the situation he finds himself in has cost him his marriage," said Miss Rooks. "He was married for nearly 12 years and ended up with depression, for which he took medication. The work he did for IBA was extremely stressful."

Miss Rooks told the court that Harris had three children aged six, nine and 11, including an autistic son, and they lived with his ex-wife.

"He does not have as much contact with the children as he wants," she said.

"He now lives in rented accommodation. He very much regrets the mess he has found himself in."

Source

Lib Dem Councillor - Evading food bill

2008-05-11T17:15:00.001+01:00

A councillor and former MP is being taken to court by a restaurant owner who claims he failed to pay meal bills.

Parmjit Singh Gill, Liberal Democrat city councillor for Stoneygate, denies all the allegations made against him.

Restaurant owner Farid Miah said Councillor Gill owes him £1,115 from eight bills.

Mr Miah said Coun Gill, who was running for Parliament in Leicester South in 2005 - where he was sitting MP after winning a by-election the previous year - set up an account at Vindaloo, in Evington, prior to the General Election and said he would pay when it had finished.

Mr Miah said Coun Gill visited his restaurant several times and brought Liberal Democrat guests including party president Simon Hughes and Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable.

Coun Gill has submitted a defence to the claim, denying all allegations that he owes any money.

In documents to Leicester County Court, he said: "It is denied that I am indebted to the claimant in the sum of £1,115 or at all.

"I note that the eight bills referred to were not attached to the particulars of the claim, leaving me unable to respond in greater detail.

"An account has never been opened by me at this restaurant. I deny this allegation.

"The claimant has made various allegations in the past, all of which have been strenuously denied.

"Prior to May 2005, I had visited the claimant's restaurant on several occasions, and all bills were settled in full.

"By way of background I have been a councillor for the Stoneygate ward of Leicester for almost five years.

"I was a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2005. I was the first elected MP from a black and minority ethnic community in the party's history and so have a considerable national profile.

"These fabricated allegations are designed to undermine my good character and integrity as a former MP and existing councillor.

"It is my view that this court is being used in an adverse way to cause me maximum political damage.

"As a matter of personal principle, I will defend to the hilt these and any other false allegations that the claimant makes."

When the Mercury approached Coun Gill about the allegations, he said: "These are false allegations designed to undermine my integrity and good reputation which will be robustly defended."

He declined to comment further.

Mr Miah said of the legal action: "I don't have any choice - I've taken the matter to court." He said he was prepared to call Mr Hughes and Mr Cable as witnesses if necessary.

A hearing was held on April 24 year at Leicester County Court, to decide how the case should be allocated.

Another hearing is set to be held this summer to determine the case.

Coun Gill became MP for Leicester South in a by-election in 2004 following the death of Labour's Jim Marshall.

However, the following year, he lost his seat in the General Election, when it was reclaimed for Labour by Sir Peter Soulsby.

Mr Miah ran as a Conservative candidate against Coun Gill in the local authority elections in 2007, but was unsuccessful.

Source

Labour Councillor - Benefit Fraud

2008-05-10T21:51:00.003+01:00

A FORMER councillor is due to appear in court this morning to be sentenced for cheating the benefit system.

Joginder Saroe, a former Labour councillor for Dormer's Wells, has admitted eight counts of falsely claiming incapacity benefits while he was sitting on the council.

It is alleged he was caught using gym equipment and that he was running his own business while claiming the money.

He is due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court today.

Source

Update

A FORMER councillor has been handed a 10-month suspended sentence for cheating the council of more than £45,000 in benefits over seven years.

Joginder Saroe, 62, of Beaconsfield Road, Southall, admitted eight charges of false accounting over housing benefit, income support and Council Tax at Isleworth Crown Court today, while other fraud charges were left on file.

The former British Airways employee was caught using the exclusive David Lloyd gym and driving an expensive Mercedes with a personalised number plate, while claiming disability benefit in 2005.

Saroe, who represented Labour for Dormers Wells, started claiming income support when his market stall business in Bristol collapsed in 1994.

But in August 1998, he started renting out a property he had bought in Glamorgan, Wales, which should have disqualified him from claiming the money.

Prosecutor Rossano Cifonelli told the court: "He was receiving about £250 a week in rental for a flat above a garage-showroom, which was leased out for another £10,000 a year. He did not declare this income and the claims continued.

"There is some background as to how matters came to light. He was claiming disability allowance and there were some differences over how ill he actually was.

"The defendant was, at various times, a councillor and the local press took an interest in his activities and they reported the fact he was on various benefits while attending the gym at the David Lloyd Club.

"Photographs were sent to the Department of Work and Pensions and when he was asked about it, he said he went to the gym because of his back."

"Further investigations revealed the existence of the property in Wales and he was questioned again."

Saroe admitted owning the property, but claimed it did not make a profit, which is why he had not informed the authorities in his claims.

Defending, Lalith De Kauwe, said Saroe, who had led a blameless life up to this point, and handed up a sheaf of testimonials from various members of the community.

He has since sold the property and paid off most of his debts and £10,000 was with his solicitors to repay the money owed to the council.

Mr De Kauwe said: "He understands that he has done wrong and he is prepared to repay that money."

Suspending a 10-month sentence for two years, Judge Andrew MacDowall said benefit fraud always merited a prison sentence because of the effect on the community at large.

He continued: "It is obviously sad that somebody of your age and position should find yourself in the dock.

"For someone such as yourself there is a genuine feeling of shame in the community. There is likely to be a measure of publicity that will be a lasting punishment as well".

In addition, Saroe faces a "confiscation hearing" in August when his financial situation will be considered by the court.

Source

UPDATE

A FORMER Labour councillor who admitted scamming thousands in benefit fraud will find out today when his next hearing will be.

Joginder Saroe, 62, of Beaconsfield Road, Southall, was handed a ten month suspended sentence for scamming more than £45,000 in incapacity and housing benefit.

The former British Airways employee was caught using the exclusive David Lloyd gym and driving an expensive Mercedes with a personalised number plate, while claiming disability benefit in 2005.

Saroe, who represented Labour for Dormers Wells, started claiming income support when his market stall business in Bristol collapsed in 1994.

But in August 1998, he started renting out a property he had bought in Glamorgan, Wales, which should have disqualified him from claiming the money.

Today his lawyers will go to court to iron out details for a confiscation hearing, where the tax man can seizer goods up to the value of his fraud.

Source

Conservative Politician accused of sex attacks

2008-05-10T06:47:00.002+01:00

A Tory politician has been suspended by his party after being charged with a series of sex attacks against young girls.

Stephen Mullins appeared before magistrates last week accused of two indecent assaults on females, the rape of another and assault on two further females. All were under the age 16.

He entered no plea and was remanded in custody to appear at a later date.

The married chef, of Links Avenue, Norwich, is a long-serving member of the Norwich North Conservative Association and has served on Hellesdon Parish Council for several years, representing the south east of the community.

It is alleged that the attacks took place over a period of five years but only recently came to light following a police investigation.

At least one of the alleged victims is now an adult. The women cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Last night Shelagh Gurney, chairman of the association, confirmed she had sought legal advice following the charges and the Conservative party area office had been informed. She said Mr Mullins' membership had been temporarily suspended awaiting the conclusion of the case.

She added: “The charges are of a very serious nature and we have got to treat them as such. However, for the time being he is innocent until proven guilty and we are awaiting the outcome of the case.”

A source added that colleagues were shocked by his arrest but were determined to keep an open mind about the charges. But they said the allegations come as an embarrassment in what should have been a positive week for Norwich Tories after they won two seats at the city council elections.

Despite serving on the council for about three years, Mr Mullins, who is in his 40s, is thought to have only sporadically attended meetings.

He has worked as head chef in the kitchen of the Bull pub in Reepham Road, Hellesdon, for 17 years.

No decision has been made on his continued employment at the pub.

Source