Former city councillor abused child in 1980s - court

Grahame had been deemed medically unfit to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court

A former Leeds councillor has walked free despite a court finding he repeatedly sexually abused a young girl more than 40 years ago.

A jury concluded Ron Grahame was responsible for two counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted buggery and one count of attempted rape against his victim, who he attacked at his home in the early 1980s.

However, 80-year-old Grahame, who had denied the offences, was deemed medically unfit to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court because he suffers from vascular dementia.

It meant a trial of the facts took place instead, with the jury only able to decide whether or not Grahame committed the offences, rather than find him guilty.

It also meant Grahame, who sat as a Labour councillor on Leeds City Council for 21 years, cannot face punishment for his actions.

He was given an absolute discharge on all four offences by Recorder Bryan Cox KC, following the conclusion of proceedings.

He was told he would have to sign the sex offenders' register for five years.

The jury had been told how Grahame, who at the time of the offences was known as Ronnie Blower, abused his victim multiple times after inviting her round to his then home to do gymnastics on Saturdays.

It was said that when his then-wife suggested the girl could go to a bedroom to get changed, Grahame insisted she could get changed in the living room in front of him.

Grahame was given an absolute discharge by the judge on all four offences

In the victim's police interview, shown to the jury, the woman said that Grahame touched her genitals multiple times across several months as she performed handstands.

She later told how, on one occasion when she was staying at the house overnight, she "curled up and froze" as Grahame got into a bed with her and tried to rape her.

The jury was told the attack was only stopped by the sound of Grahame's then wife moving downstairs and he fled the room, leaving the girl "crying all night".

The victim had later told both her parents what had happened, but neither contacted the police, the court was told.

She reported the abuse herself in 2020 after finding a picture of Grahame in an online article and realising he had changed his name.

Grahame, now of Swardale Green in Leeds, was first elected to the city council in 1982 for the Whinmoor ward and served until 1991.

He was later elected to represent the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward in 2010, but was suspended by Labour in 2020 after he was charged with the offences.

He stood down from the council in 2022 when his four-year term expired.

The criminal case against him was adjourned on several occasions, mainly to allow for medical information on his dementia and fitness to stand trial to be gathered.

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