City councillor charged with child sex offences

Rylan Ray has been suspended from the Conservative Party "with immediate effect"

A city councillor has appeared in court charged with child sex offences.

Rylan Ray, 25, of Westgate, Peterborough, who is a Conservative representative for Eye, Thorney and Newborough on Peterborough City Council, appeared before Luton Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 5 January.

The Conservative Party has confirmed that he has been suspended "with immediate effect".

Mr Ray has been charged with 22 offences, which include:

• One count of rape of a man 16 or over

• Three counts of sexual assault on a male

• Seven counts of causing or inciting a teenage boy to engage in sexual activity

• Five counts of causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity

• Four counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child

• Two indecent image charges

He was first elected as a Conservative city councillor in Peterborough in 2022.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: "We are aware that Councillor Ray has been charged in connection with a number of serious sexual offences.

"At this time, he remains a serving elected member of the council. Under local government legislation disqualification arises only in prescribed circumstances including where a councillor is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more."