Weymouth Libdem councillor and Olympic Torch Bearer Ryan Hope charged with child rape suspended from from Liberal Party.
http://webapps-wpbc.dorsetforyou.com/apps/democracy/councillors.asp
Ryan Dean Hope, aged 22 who represents the Westham North ward on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, attended a preliminary hearing at Dorchester Crown Court in August 2013 allegations spanned a period between October 17, 2005, and December 31, 2012, and related to a single victim a boy who is now 17 years old.
The Councillor first appeared before Magistrates on Tuesday 9th July 2013
September 2013 at Dorchester Crown Court he was charged with one count of raping a child, one count of rape, one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of sexual assault.
December 28th 2013 he pleaded not guilty and the trial date was set for 28th April 2014
This week the Liberal Democrats suspended the Councillor.
A spokesman for the Liberal Democrat Party said that these were "serious offences" and that a failure of communications" meant he had not been suspended earlier.
He said: “These are extremely serious allegations. Cllr Hope has been suspended both as a Liberal Democrat member and councillor pending the outcome of his trial.
“This should have happened last year but a failure to communicate the situation from the local party to the national party meant this did not happen.”
Community award for ‘local hero’
http://webapps-wpbc.dorsetforyou.com/apps/democracy/councillors.asp
Ryan Dean Hope, aged 22 who represents the Westham North ward on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, attended a preliminary hearing at Dorchester Crown Court in August 2013 allegations spanned a period between October 17, 2005, and December 31, 2012, and related to a single victim a boy who is now 17 years old.
The Councillor first appeared before Magistrates on Tuesday 9th July 2013
September 2013 at Dorchester Crown Court he was charged with one count of raping a child, one count of rape, one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of sexual assault.
December 28th 2013 he pleaded not guilty and the trial date was set for 28th April 2014
This week the Liberal Democrats suspended the Councillor.
A spokesman for the Liberal Democrat Party said that these were "serious offences" and that a failure of communications" meant he had not been suspended earlier.
He said: “These are extremely serious allegations. Cllr Hope has been suspended both as a Liberal Democrat member and councillor pending the outcome of his trial.
“This should have happened last year but a failure to communicate the situation from the local party to the national party meant this did not happen.”
Community award for ‘local hero’
