Mr Burgess has been given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for a year
for indecently assaulting a seven-year-old boy. Mr Burgess pleaded guilty at
Nottingham Crown Court to assaulting the boy 23 years ago. It was revealed that
the offence was not Burgess's first. He was handed a £25 fine after admitting a
similar offence, this time on an eight-year-old boy, in 1971.
The assault happened on an occasion when the boy had visited Burgess's home to
help fold political leaflets. The court heard Burgess's victim was a regular
visitor. His father was a friend of Burgess. Burgess became leader after Labour
lost overall control of the city council and his group formed a coalition with
the Conservatives. In October 2005 a police investigation into allegations of
indecent assault by Burgess was made public and he was suspended by the Lib
Dems.
Judge Michael Stokes QC said Burgess's community work and public service since
the latest offence meant an immediate custodial sentence was not necessary. In
the most recent offence, the boy was touched indecently by Burgess after
visiting his home to help fold political leaflets. Under the Local Government
Act 1972, candidates at an election do not have to disclose convictions that
occurred more than five years previously.
Mr Burgess could not have stood as a Lib Dem candidate had he declared his 1971
conviction for molesting a child. Derby's Lib Dems claim Burgess failed to
declare his offence on a form asking whether there were any incidents that may
cause "political embarrassment", which he signed before he stood. Current party
leader Councillor Hilary Jones said people wishing to stand for the party were
required to disclose all previous misdemeanours. Mr Burgess said after the
hearing that he needed time to reflect on what it would mean to him both
personally and in his public life. (Source:
Derby Gripe,
Dec/06)
28 Oct 05 :- Lib Dem group leader Maurice Burgess
declared himself "out of action" and handed his duties over to his deputy,
Mickleover ward councillor Hilary Jones. Mr Burgess estimated he would be taking
a back seat for "about a fortnight". Neither Ms Jones nor the party's former
deputy leader Lucy Care would reveal the reason for Mr Burgess's absence. Now we
know....
Cllr Burgess faces a charge of indecent assault against another male a number of
years ago. Mr Burgess denies the allegation. In accordance with normal party
procedure Mr Burgess's membership of the Derby Lib Dem council group and the Lib
Dem Party has been suspended.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault before Nottingham
magistrates and was bailed to appear before Nottingham Crown Court for trial in
the new year. He was released on conditional bail not to approach witnesses. Mr
Burgess later announced he is to stand down as a councillor while he is awaiting
the outcome of the trial
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