Tory councillor’s gay sex case adjourned for a week
A Conservative councillor in Harrow turned up at court today to face charges of gross indecency in a public lavatory, but the case was adjourned for a week.
Robert Benson was expected to enter a plea at Wimbledon Magistrates Court this morning. He was accompanied this morning by his fiancee, reports the Hillingdon Times.
However, the 41-year-old’s application for legal aid had not been lodged and so the case was postponed until August.
Mr Benson has been suspended from the Tory party but remains a councillor.
The Hillingdon Times reports that he has also been suspended a a governor of a local secondary school.
Mr Benson is accused of performing oral sex on a 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 man from Essex was issued with a caution.
Last week the Tory leader of the council 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.”
