ROYAL HONOUR STRIPPED FROM FORMER LEADER
SHAMED former Hampshire County Council boss Freddie Emery-Wallis has been stripped of his CBE by the Queen for sexually abusing young boys, the Daily Echo can reveal.The disgraced 74-year-old ex-Tory councillor, pictured, was made a Commander of the British Empire two years ago for his services to the community.
The Queen's birthday honour has been taken away from him on the advice of a special forfeiture committee set up by government chiefs.
Disqualification from holding the title is not automatic for those convicted of a crime.
Committee members are directed to consider the seriousness of the offence itself before making a decision.
The move comes following Emery-Wallis's release from Winchester Prison in October after serving four months of a nine-month sentence for indecently assaulting two teenage boys.
A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said the married father-of-two will be expected to send back his ceremonial ribbon displaying the metal insignia of the British Empire.
She declined to comment on the reasons for the decision, explaining to the Daily Echo: "As far as honours being rescinded they are rescinded on the advice of the Prime Minister and other ministers of the day." Downing Street press officer Saeed Khan said: "We cannot comment on individual cases at all.
"All that can be said is that Frederick Alfred John Emery-Wallis was part of the birthday honours list of 1999.
The Queen has directed that his appointment to be a Commander of the British Empire on June 12, 1999, shall be annulled and his name erased from the register.
Once he is off the register he can no longer use CBE after his title." Of the timing of the decision, he added: "At the end of the day all avenues of appeal had to be exhausted and they have now been exhausted." Emery-Wallis's jail term has also disqualified him from being a councillor for the next five years.
