Former mayor and rapist son jailed

A former mayor and her rapist son, who worked together to stall police after they turned up at their home to question him about the attack, have been jailed.

Naheed Ejaz, 61, was Bracknell Forest Council's first Muslim mayor when she was selected in May 2023 but quit her role as a Labour councillor in October 2024.

She was jailed for three years after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Diwas Khan, 41, admitted perverting the course of justice and was found guilty of the rape of a 15-year old girl in summer 2024. He was given a jail sentence of 12 years.

His trial heard he plied the victim with ecstasy and vodka before he filmed himself raping her on his mobile phone as she lay unconscious.

Prosecutors said Ejaz and Khan spoke in Urdu when officers turned up at their Bracknell home in September 2024 so they could secretly discuss what to do with his phone.

Judge Rufus Taylor said Ejaz did not know at the time what the phone contained but that by taking it there was a "real risk" Khan "might have avoided prosecution of the rape of an unconscious child".

The phone has never been found.

The court heard Khan's victim said he had told her he was the "mayor's consort".

He attended official events with Ejaz during her time in her role.

Prosecutors said the impact on Khan's victim had been profound and that she was still receiving mental health support.

The court was told Khan has a long criminal history and was jailed for two years for possessing with intent to supply cocaine in 2013.

Ejaz, who had never offended before, arrived in the UK from Pakistan in 1984 and later fled an abusive marriage, the court heard.

Khan admitted perverting the course of justice but denied rape. Ejaz had denied perverting the course of justice. Both were convicted of those charges in February.

Bracknell Forest councillor Geraldine Webb submitted a character reference on Ejaz's behalf, in which she said Ejaz had been "totally committed to civil duties", the judge said.

Following Ejaz and Khan's convictions, Bracknell Forest Council said it removed a official mayoral portrait of Ejaz at its Time Square headquarters.

In a statement, its chief executive Susan Halliwell said its "sincere and deepest thoughts are with the very brave young victim, her family and her friends."