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Former Kensington and Chelsea councillor facing child porn charges

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Andrew Lamont will face 14 charges at Isleworth Crown Court on November 8.

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By Nadine Burnham-Marshalleck

A former Kensington and Chelsea councillor will appear in crown court over child porn charges next month.

Andrew Lamont, 52, was originally charged with 22 counts of possessing indecent images, 17 of them of children. 

Lamont appeared at West London Magistrates Court last Thursday. During the hearing, the number of charges was reduced to 14.

He will face the 14 charges at Isleworth Crown Court on 8th November.

Lamont officially resigned as Norland councillor on 30th August after it emerged he had been charged with possessing pornographic images.

Following last week’s by-election, Conservative Catherine Faulks is the new councillor for Norland.

RBKC Council’s handling of Lamont’s resignation has been heavily criticised by Kensington’s Labour Party.

Beinazer Lasherie, former Labour candidate for Norland, said: “It is not an inclusive council.  They are not including people into what is going on with their local representatives.

“For 11 months he was still on the books as a councillor but he was not active.

“I think it is a shame the council knew for 11 months and they didn’t call a by-election sooner,” she added.

Critics have also questioned Lamont’s attendance at a meeting of the Public Realm Scrutiny Committee while he officially claimed to be away from council business.

However, RBKC Council insists there was no delay in calling a by-election and the proper procedures were followed.

A council spokesman said: “Councillor Lamont requested unpaid leave of absence from the council which was granted; the council stopped his allowance accordingly.  

“However Mr Lamont avoided triggering his own automatic resignation at six months of absence by attending a meeting.

“He therefore legally remained a councillor and was entitled to attend meetings.”

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