LEEDS EX-COUNCILLOR WALKS FREE DESPITE SEX ABUSE CONVICTIONS

A former Leeds councillor has been released despite a court ruling that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl over four decades ago. The jury found Ron Grahame responsible for two counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted buggery, and one count of attempted rape against a girl he attacked at his home during the early 1980s. Despite denying these charges, 80-year-old Grahame was declared medically unfit to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court because he suffers from vascular dementia. This led to a trial of the facts, where the jury could only determine whether or not Grahame committed the offences. As a result, he was given an absolute discharge on all four charges by Recorder Bryan Cox KC and told he must sign the sex offenders' register for five years. During the trial, it was revealed that Grahame, who was known as Ronnie Blower at the time, abused his victim multiple times after inviting her to his home for gymnastics sessions on Saturdays. The victim recounted how Grahame touched her genitals repeatedly and tried to rape her when she stayed overnight at his house, an attack only interrupted by the sound of Grahame’s wife moving downstairs. The girl was later informed by her parents but they did not contact police. She reported the abuse herself in 2020 after recognizing Grahame in an online article and realizing he had changed his name. Grahame served as a Labour councillor in Leeds from 1982 to 1991, and was re-elected in 2010 representing the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward. He was suspended by the Labour Party in 2020 following charges and stood down from the council in 2022 when his term ended. The case faced several adjournments to gather medical evidence regarding his dementia and fitness for trial.