Labour Councillor and Mayor-Elect for Merton (London), Sam Chaudry, who was due to become Merton's first Asian Mayor, before he was arrested, was tried and convicted of multiple sex attacks on young girls in 1999. One of his victims was a 5-year old.
In a spectacular fall from grace since his appointment as deputy mayor last February, an expressionless Chaudhry was led down from the dock following sentence at Kingston Crown Court last Friday. The 70-year-old ex-councillor who resigned in April due to ill health after being made mayor-elect pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault against two girls under 16 at a hearing on December the 3rd 2001.
The offences happened between January 1988 and December 2000. During that time he served as a councillor for Longthornton ward.
He originally pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of sexual abuse, two involving another female between 1968 and 1972, yet changed his plea to guilty on four counts after hearing the prosecution's opening speech. The remaining seven counts were ordered to lie on file.
Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson said: "You have shown good character as a councillor and as deputy mayor of Merton indeed you would have become mayor of Merton had these allegations not surfaced. Yet I have to deal with you and the other side of your character. You displayed grudging acceptance to the seriousness of what you did. I have come to the conclusion you are more concerned about the loss of your reputation."
Simon Connolly, defending, had claimed Chaudhry didn't fully understand that what he did was wrong at the time and asked the judge to take into account his ill-health when passing sentence.
He said "He is a man who is not well. He is a man who is suffering personally and psychologically from this. A prison sentence for this man would be an ordeal. He's had a lot to lose and has lost it all."
Judge McGregor-Johnson said the offences could only be properly dealt with by a custodial penalty and sentenced Chaudhry to two years for each offence with the terms to run concurrently although it is likely he will only serve one year. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.