Former councillor denies sex offences involving teenager

Summarised from BBC Cambridgeshire's report · Updated 14 Oct, 19:21 · Archive

A former Peterborough councillor denies 25 sexual offences including rape and making indecent images of children.

Rylan Ray, 26, from Peterborough, denies 25 sexual offences including one count of rape, four of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three of making indecent images of children. He is a former member of Peterborough City Council.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Ray allegedly took a teenage boy to "private parties" held at the home of councillor John Peach and attended by Ray's acquaintances from the council. The teenager's mother said Ray was "well spoken" and often paid for days and nights out for her son. She recalled her son being paid about £50 to help set up one party.

The alleged victim told police he and Ray had been "good mates". He said he had been contacted on Snapchat by an account claiming to be a young woman called Chelsie, with whom he exchanged sexual messages and sent nude images of himself when aged 16 or 17. The prosecution believes the account was operated by Ray, as many of his alleged victims were contacted similarly.

Read the report

• Teen taken to parties with politicians, court hearsThe trial of a former councillor accused of sexual offences, many involving children, continues.BBC Cambridgeshire · 14 Oct, 18:52

In this story: Rylan Ray · John Peach · Peterborough City Council · Ipswich Crown Court · Peterborough

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