Councillor charged with raping child
Ashley Sorenson will appear in Preston Crown Court next month
- Published
A serving councillor has been charged with raping a child.
Ashley Sorenson is facing one charge of raping a girl under the age of 16 and six counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 14.
Mr Sorenson, an independent councillor representing the Preesall ward on Wyre Council in Lancashire, made an initial appearance at Preston Magistrates' Court on 17 July.
The 55-year-old, of Woodland Avenue in Thornton, is next due to appear at the city's Crown Court on 14 August for a pre-trial hearing.
Mr Sorenson was released on bail in the meantime.
The councillor was elected in 2023 when there was a clean sweep of independent candidates in the Preesall ward.
Wyre Council said it could not comment while court proceedings were ongoing.
Get in touch
Tell us which stories we should cover in Lancashire
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.