Ex lib dem leader

Ex Lib Dem Council leader Derek Osbourne has been sentenced to two years in prison for downloading and distributing indecent images of children. The court heard how Osbourne used an Internet pseudonym to distribute the images depicting children aged between three and ten being subjected to sexual abuse. The prosecutor said this was a spectacular fall from grace for an individual who was in a position of significant public trust. At the time of his offending he was the Leader of Kingston Borough Council and was responsible for the welfare of hundreds, if not thousands of children. He committed these abhorrent offences in direct contradiction to the position of trust and responsibility. Mr Zinner prosecuting, said he must have known what he was doing would significantly contribute to the cycle of harm suffered by victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Cllr Howard Jones Leader of Kingston Conservatives, wrote an open letter to the Chief Executive and current Leader of the Council calling for a review into Osbourne’s time at the Guildhall. Cllr Jones said ‘Residents will want to know he has not in any way allowed his private activities to impinge on his work ar any decision making he has made. He was obviously very devious in his pornographic activities – let’s be absolutely sure there is nothing that will leave us with mud in our eyes in six months time.’