Former councillor pleads guilty to sex act

1:10pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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A FORMER Hillingdon councillor has admitted his part in a sex act with a 56-year-old man in a Rayners Lane public toilet.

Robert Benson's political career lay in ruins after he pleaded guilty to the offence at Wimbledon Magistrates Court today and was ordered to pay a £205 fine and the prosecution's costs.

Benson represented Northwood from 1998 to 2002 before moving to Harrow Council in 2006 where he was suspended from the Tory party following his arrest.

Police found the 41-year-old standing with his trousers and boxer shorts pulled down to his knees, while another man, from Woodford, performed oral sex on him, at around 3.45pm, on Wednesday, June 25.

Police watched for several seconds before telling the pair to stop.

Tarryn McCaffrey, prosecuting, told the court how Benson said to the officers the act was happening against his will.

She said: “When challenged he merely shrugged his shoulders and said his council career was over.”

The court also heard how this is not the first time the soon-to-be-wed councillor has been caught in a similar situation.