'Councillor sexually assaulted baby boy'
5:00pm Wednesday 1st October 2008
By Miles Godfrey »
A councillor sexually assaulted a baby then threatened to reveal naked photos of the child’s mother if she spoke out, a court heard.
Former stockbroker Mark McCarthy, from Worthing, laughed after indecently assaulting the boy in front of two witnesses, a jury was told.
He then told his alleged victim’s mother he would humiliate her by publishing intimate pictures of her in newspapers, She had called police after the 37-year-old, who was a Conservative member of Worthing Borough Council, allegedly abused the baby.
McCarthy, who has since quit the council and the Tory party, faces two counts of indecent assault on a child and making a threatening phone call with the intention of perverting the course of justice.
A jury at Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday that the boy’s mother was shocked when the councillor carried out the act on her baby.
She told the jury she had initially not thought of it as sexual abuse but later realised she was wrong and gave a statement to police.
However, before the trial got to court, McCarthy phoned her saying: “You are ****ed either way, darling, you really are.”
Alan Blake, prosecuting, told the jury the woman was the mother of a little boy who was less than a year old at the time.
Giving evidence, she told the jury she had seen McCarthy bend over and assault the baby.
The child’s mother said she had given a shocked laugh at the time but had only remonstrated with McCarthy when he repeated the bizarre assault a few weeks later.
She told him: “It’s wrong. Don’t you ever do that again.”
But he told her: “I only did it because it made you laugh the first time.”
She later received a silent phone call followed by a call from McCarthy himself, in which he told her he had naked pictures of her.
“He said he was going to publish the pictures of her in the papers to prove he was not a paedophile,” said the prosecutor.
The mother had been “angry, worried and intimidated” by the call.
Mr Blake said: “He (McCarthy) knew perfectly well that she was a witness and those calls were clearly intended to dissuade her from coming to court,” he said.
The woman told the jury she admitted getting angry with McCarthy and telling him: “You are sick. You are going to prison.”
“He told me he had those pictures but I knew that was not true as I have never done anything like that in front of anyone, particularly not in front of a camera,” she said.
The jury later heard from a woman who said she was an eyewitness to McCarthy’s alleged assault on the baby.
After the alleged assault, she said McCarthy thought it was funny. “He was laughing. We were very shocked,” she said.
Detective Constable Stuart May said that when McCarthy was interviewed he had made no comment but handed over a statement prepared with his solicitor, which denied the “vicious allegations”.
He was later charged with indecent assault and with witness intimidation because he allegedly telephoned the mother and threatened to publish pictures of her if she went to court.
McCarthy, of Offington Avenue, Worthing, denies two counts of indecent assault and one count of making a threatening phone call to the witness with the intention that justice be perverted or interfered with.
The trial continues.
http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/local-harrow-news/2008/09/15/disgraced-councillor-kicked-out-of-tory-party-116451-21820138/
Disgraced councillor kicked out of Tory party
Sep 15 2008 By Tara Brady
A disgraced councillor has been booted out of the Conservative group after admitting he received oral sex from another man in a South Harrow public toilet.
A disgraced councillor has been booted out of the Conservative group after admitting he received oral sex from another man in a South Harrow public toilet.
Shameless Robert Benson, 41, of Brokleyside, Stanmore, stood before his former council colleagues at a special meeting on September 1 to plead his case to remain a conservative councillor.
But after a group vote it was unanimously decided Benson should be kicked out of the Tory administration.
However, it is believed he will still sit as an independent councillor.
Councillor, David Ashton (Conservative), leader of Harrow, said: "It was up to him if he wanted to re-join the group and he did. However, the decision made at the meeting was very much a group decision.
"It is unfortunate. Nobody likes for these things to happen but I agree with the decision which was made."
Benson was arrested by Rayners Lane Safer Neighbourhood Team on suspicion of gross indecency on Wednesday June 25 along with a 56-year-old man.
He pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court last month and was fined £205.
Councillor Hussain Akhtar will replace Benson on the council's planning committee.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7482356.stm
A leading Suffolk county councillor has admitted 11 sex offences.
Benjamin Redsell, 28, of Melton, resigned from the Conservative group on the county council when charges were first brought in November 2007.
At Norwich Crown Court he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on 24 August 2007 and 10 charges relating to photographs of children.
Redsell, who stayed on the council as an independent, was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced on 1 August.
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http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/3687160.WALTHAM_FOREST__Councillor_and_wife_face_fraud_trial_/
A TORY councillor and his wife will appear in court today accused of benefit fraud.
Cllr Graham Sinclair, who represents Chingford Green, and his wife Deborah de la Nougerede are accused of misreceiving benefits totalling more than £9,000.
It is alleged Cllr Sinclair was receiving income support, council tax benefit, and housing benefit over an eight month period, despite receiving a member's allowance.
He and his wife pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing at Thames Magistrates Court in Bow.
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A former Tory politician admitted five sex offences involving three girls, including one rape.
Stephens Mullins, 52, formerly of Links Avenue, Norwich, was remanded in custody for sentencing on September 1 after admitting the charges at Norwich Crown Court.
The long-serving member of Norwich North Conservative Association and former Hellesdon parish councillor pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault against a girl under 14 - one between August 22, 1999 and August 21, 2000 and the second between August 22, 2000 and August 21, 2002. He admitted one rape on the same girl between August 22, 1999 and August 21, 2002.
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A Tory high-flyer has been arrested by police investigating a three-year campaign of hate against political opponents.
Ian Oakley, 31, who had been chosen to stand in the next election, was arrested on suspicion of vandalism, making abusive midnight phone calls and sending porn in the post to several Lib Dem members.
Police are also investigating false claims that some Lib Dems were convicted sex offenders.
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A newly elected Tory councillor has resigned after he allegedly made up claims that he had been suffering from cancer.
Darren Gilbert, 22, was elected to represent Hatfield Central on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council during the local elections last Thursday.
But Mr Gilbert yesterday resigned from the post after it was alleged he made up claims that he was suffering from cancer while employed by Tesco.
http://www.24dash.com/news/Local_Gov...-cancer-claims
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A LIVERPOOL councillor was last night charged with downloading indecent images of children.
Cllr Ben Williams will appear in court in May accused of 12 counts of making the indecent images over a year-long period.
The 34-year-old was arrested last December by officers from Sefton Family Crime Unit and eight computers were seized in the inquiry.
He answered bail yesterday afternoon and was charged after questioning by detectives.
Cllr Williams is alleged to have made the images between December 13, 2006 and December 17, 2007.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...4375-20787467/
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A councillor who called for the legalisation of euthanasia to cut the number of children in care is being pressured to resign.
Tory Hugh Jackson made the remark during a council meeting about the number of vulnerable youngsters being looked after by the local authority.
Now calls are being made for him to resign after he suggested euthanasia as a solution during the meeting of North Tyneside Council's finance sub committee.
He was responding to information that 43 youngsters in North Tyneside are cared for in other local authority areas, putting a financial strain on the council to the tune of £3.4 million a year.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770
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A Conservative politician was today found guilty of using bogus postal votes to ensure he was voted into office.
Eshaq Khan beat Lydia Simmons, an ex-mayor of Slough in Berkshire and a Labour councillor for 23 years, by 119 votes to win the council's Central Ward in last year's local elections.
But a special High Court election court, sitting in Slough, today found Khan and his agents guilty of corrupt and illegal practices in relation to applications for registering to vote and postal voting.
A by-election will now be called in the borough and Khan has been banned by the court from standing again.
http://www.24dash.com/news/Local_Gov...tal-vote-fraud
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DAVID Cameron had two donations worth around £7,400 to his constituency party declared impermissible by the Electoral Commission, it has emerged.
The Tory leader's Witney Conservative Association has agreed to forfeit the sum to public funds because the benefactors were not on the UK electoral roll.
The revelation is a blow for Mr Cameron, who has made capital out of Labour's embarrassment over its proxy donor, property developer David Abrahams.
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/...y--.3602486.jp
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A Conservative parliamentary candidate and two former Tory councillors will appear in court this week in connection with a suspected vote-rigging conspiracy that was uncovered by The Times.
They are among seven men accused of electoral fraud following a lengthy police investigation into alleged malpractice in Bradford, mostly relating to the use of postal ballots. The criminal inquiry was prompted by an article in The Times that exposed postal voting irregularities in the Bradford West constituency during the 2005 general election campaign.
Those charged include Haroon Rashid, 37, from Buckinghamshire, who stood as the unsuccessful Tory candidate in Bradford West. Mr Rashid has been a member of the Conservative Party for more than 15 years and an active campaigner for increased Asian representation.
Also due to appear before Bradford magistrates on Wednesday are two former Conservative councillors in the city, Jamshed Khan, 53, and Reis Khan, 38.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle2852994.ece
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The mayor of Lichfield was appearing before magistrates today to stand trial on a charge of assaulting a man in a city centre pub. Councillor Michael Fryers was in court.
He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault following an alleged incident at the Kings Head pub in Lichfield city centre on July 14.
Councillor Fryers, aged 60, and of William Lunns Homes, Stowe Street, has been suspended from the Lichfield City Council Conservative group pending the court outcome.
He is due to re-appear at Tamworth Magistrates Court today after being granted unconditional bail at a hearing in August.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2007/1...assault-trial/
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Councillor runs up biggest tab with 'chauffeur service
'A massive' taxi bill has again been amassed by Barnet councillor and London Assembly deputy chairman Brian Coleman - making his summer total higher than both Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron.
The Greater London Authority's audit committee showed Mr Coleman spent £1,740.04 on London cabs, between April 1 and August 31 this year, making him responsible for nearly half of the total expenditure for taxi travel in the assembly...
..His total expenses came to £3,583 - the highest in the assembly - compared to Mr Livingstone's £2,708.08.
Mr Coleman was unrepentant about his spending...
...The bill comes on top of Mr Coleman's £10,334 taxi bill recorded in the last audit, between April 2006 and March 2007...
...Mayor of London Ken Livingstone criticised Mr Coleman's spending and stressed that free annual, all-zone Travel Cards were available to London Assembly members to encourage the use of public transport...
http://www.hendontimes.co.uk/display...e_cab_bill.php
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A former Tory councillor was this week bound over to keep the peace for his involvement in a racially motivated attack on a cabbie.
Businessman Shaun Smith, 38, had arrived at Manchester Airport with partner Amanda Ahlgreen, 39, when she became involved in a fracas at the taxi rank. Smith arrived on the scene and after a brief row, the police were called and the pair were arrested.
http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/news...axi_fracas.php
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A FORMER councillor will not be prosecuted following allegations of sexual offences, Kent Police have announced.
Paul Foster, 49, a former Conservative member for Rainham Central Ward on Medway council, was arrested in October last year. He resigned from the council on December 28. His spokesman said at the time that his resignation had nothing to do with the police investigation.
http://www.kent-online.co.uk/news/de...record=-1.#IND
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A Portsmouth councillor has been arrested by police over allegations of corruption, it has been revealed.
Jezz Baker, who is a member of the city's planning committee, was arrested on Tuesday by detectives investigating a complaint by a member of the public.
Chief Executive David Williams said the council was fully assisting the police but could not comment further because it was an on-going investigation.
Mr Baker, of East Cosham, is the Conservative councillor for Hilsea.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/6589353.stm
http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/news?ArticleID=2727673
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Politicians are often criticised for bumbling, meaningless rhetoric. Not Croydon Central's Conservative MP, Andrew Pelling.
Asked by two constituents if he might sign an Early Day Motion (parliamentary petition) objecting to Israel developing closer trade ties with the EU, he flipped and wrote back: "It will be a pleasure to have you both not voting for me - why don't you go and vote for the BNP?"
The response was something of a surprise for Alfred and Angela Litten, who had politely written to Pelling, their MP. When on Monday evening he emailed, declining to sign the EDM, Mrs Litten replied: "I suppose you will accept our view that supporting the local Conservative candidate at the next election would be just too trivial for us to bother with."
Nine minutes later she received Pelling's steaming reply: "Your idiotic response attacking someone who supports the Palestinian cause is a complete joke. Do not insult the people of Palestine by suggesting that EDMs are an appropriate means of fighting their cause. Get serious about this issue where people's human rights are abused on a daily basis."
http://news.independent.co.uk/people...cle2311338.ece
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A SENIOR Tory councillor improperly used his position to help a party colleague and friend gain a controversial planning permission to build a house, according to the findings of a damning report by a local government watchdog.
The councillor, Nigel Simms, chairman of an area planning committee on Harrogate Council, used his casting vote to approve planning permission for a house in the Nidderdale area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) – a decision which flew in the face of six established council policies.
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/View...icleID=1943145
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Tory politician Garry Parker was quizzed by police and council officials at Thorpe Wood police station on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.
The investigation against the Orton and Hampton councillor relates to his declarations of living alone in order to secure a 25 per cent reduction on his council tax.
http://www.peterboroughnow.co.uk/Vie...&SectionID=845
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A former Redruth councillor has been jailed for indecently assaulting a young girl.
Andrew Trathen, 52, of Rose Row in Redruth, denied intentionally sexually touching the girl last April.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/5318018.stm
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Councillor in kiddie porn probe
11 August 2006
A COUNCILLOR has been arrested on suspicion of possessing pornographic images of children.
The Recorder has discovered that new Tory member, David Charles, 58, of Acacia Gardens, Cranham, was held in custody by police.
A police spokesman said: "We can confirm officers from the Child Abuse Investigation Team have arrested a 58-year-old man from the Havering area on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. He was held in custody at an east London police station."...
...Police bailed Mr Charles to return for further questioning in October.
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/con...A12%3A49%3A163
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article718181.ece
Rising star accused of telling white audiences one thing and Muslims another got her facts wrong
By Andrew Norfolk
A CONSERVATIVE activist has fuelled mistrust of the police in Muslim communities by making false statements on the detention of terror suspects.
Sayeeda Warsi, a rising star of David Cameron’s party, said that almost 900 “innocent people” had been “locked up for 14 days” under anti-terrorism laws. In reality, 36 terror suspects have been detained for more than seven days. Of the 10 who were freed without charge, none was held for 14 days.
Mrs Warsi, 34, the Conservative vice-chairman with responsibility for cities, asserted that the tightening of anti-terrorist legislation had turned Britain into “a police state”.
The claims appear in an article that she wrote for Awaaz, a newspaper read by Asians that is distributed in the West Yorkshire towns and cities that were home to the July 7 suicide bombers. Readers were told by Mrs Warsi that the Government’s anti-terror proposals were “enough to tip any normal young man into the realms of a radicalised fanatic”.
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Child porn councillor resigns
Kenneth Leadbeater leaves Dartford Magistrates' Court on June 9. Picture: JIM RANTELL
Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite says the decision is "in the best interests of the council and residents of Dartford"
by Sam Lennon and Theresa Gains
THE former council leader who admitted 14 child porn charges has resigned as a councillor.
Kenneth Leadbeater stepped down as the leader of Dartford council in February, after police raided his house and launched an investigation.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kol08/article/default.asp?article_id=26873
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A FLEDGLING Tory councillor and charity director has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud investors.
But trainee lawyer Kevin Gregory, 37, of Gidea Park, claims he was one of the victims in the cash trap, losing close to £130,000.
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/con...A35%3A17%3A003
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A TOP Reading councillor has been reported to local government watchdogs for claiming he knew no council-employed teachers were on the sex offenders register.
The Standards Board for England has been asked to probe the conduct of borough children's services leader Cllr Pete Ruhemann.
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html
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AN aide to a right-wing Tory MP was jailed for a bigamist marriage, it was revealed yesterday.
Karen Kennedy, 46 - secretary of Roger Gale's constituency association - married two Bangladeshis.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obje...name_page.html
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COWES town councillor and former primary school governor David Christopher Hill pleaded guilty to six child sex offences when he appeared at the IW Crown Court on Monday.
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/ViewArticle2.a...icleID=1418920
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Tory in woman sex sale attempt
Mar 8, 2006
A West Bromwich councillor has admitted trying to sell a woman for sex.
Councillor Alan Burkitt, Tory member for the Charlemont ward, has been suspended by his party following his arrest on Sunday.
He was kept in custody overnight at West Bromwich police station and released on bail Monday afternoon pending further inquiries.
Councillor Burkitt, former deputy leader of the Tory group on Sandwell Council, told the Express & Star that the matter concerned only one woman and claimed that she was consenting.
He said: "I realise what I did was still illegal but it was consented to. She is denying it...
http://www.expressandstar.com/articl...icle_87795.php
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obje...name_page.html
A TORY deputy mayor has sparked outrage by calling for disabled kids to be guillotined to avoid wasting cash on their care.
Retired GP Owen Lister made his sick suggestion to fellow councillors as they discussed sending the youngsters to a £3,000-a-week care home.
Mr Lister, 79, told them: "I would guillotine them."
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Tory facing jail over kids
A TORY councillor is facing jail for leaving two children aged under nine at home alone — in a house containing two rifles.
Police had to force their way into the house and found the youngsters distraught but unharmed.
John Smith, 49, admitted two offences of abandoning the children in the “extremely untidy” house in Barnsley, South Yorks. The kids had been left exposed to several hazards including loose wires from an unattached electrical socket and two rifles...
...Smith was warned he is facing custody and the case was adjourned for probation reports.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005360326,00.html
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KILLER DRIVER IS NEW TORY MR TRANSPORT
THE Tories' new transport spokesman killed a biker while driving on the WRONG side of the road. Right-winger Julian Brazier accepted the job from Conservative leader Michael Howard despite narrowly avoiding a five-year jail sentence. Last night there was bewilderment around Westminster as Mr Howard was accused of making the most insensitive political appointment in living memory. Brazier was given a suspended jail sentence after ploughing his people carrier into the motorcyclist while driving on the wrong side of the road on holiday in Italy.
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/t...name_page.html
http://www.julianbrazier.co.uk
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DAVID Bateman, Tory Epping Forest district councillor for Grange Hill ward, who is alleged to have tried to bribe a Guardian reporter in the run-up to the local elections, is due to answer police bail on Thursday, January 20...
...Police spokesman Roger Grimwade said police were waiting for a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service before theycould confirm whether it would proceed with a prosecution.
http://www.eppingforestguardian.co.u...aim_probed.php
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Birmingham: Tory councillor cautioned in vicious assault had previous conviction.
Birmingham Council - Bartley Green Ward - Councillor John Lines (Conservative)
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Generat...0&MENU_ID=1298
Quote:
Housing chief attacks barman
Aug 22 2004
Sunday Mercury
A housing chief exposed as a neighbour from hell carried out a vicious assault on a barman last summer.
John Lines, 59, punched pub worker Matt Smith three times - because he would not serve him after hours.
He admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Smith and received a caution but there was no publicity around the case because it did not go to court.
His victim received cuts to the face and swelling after the assault at the Cobham Arms in Halesowen last May...
...The whole incident was witnessed by the landlord's wife and captured on CCTV cameras."...
..."We called the police when I was home and they sent someone down the next day. The officers kept saying to me 'You know this is a councillor, don't you?'"
"I thought, so what? He beat me up." John Lines was arrested a month later and accepted a caution for causing actual bodily harm. His victim's family pressed for prosecution but were told that acceptance of the caution meant his attacker had admitted the offence.
West Midlands Police said a caution was considered appropriate because it was the Tory councillor's first offence.
But when the Sunday Mercury pointed out that he had been convicted of actual bodily harm in the past, the force spokeswoman was unable to explain the decision not to prosecute...
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html
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A councillor facing charges of kidnapping and assaulting a man appeared in crown court on Friday.
Ian Strong, a Conservative councillor on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court with two other defendants.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/3584418.stm
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