Former Labour Mayor and Son Face Trial Over Alleged Rape and Cover-Up
A shocking case has unfolded at Winchester Crown Court where a former Labour mayor and her son stand accused of serious criminal offences involving a teenage schoolgirl. The allegations centre on an alleged sexual assault and subsequent attempts to obstruct justice.
Disturbing Allegations Emerge
The court heard how a 15-year-old schoolgirl returned to school after the summer holidays and confided in her teacher about what prosecutors describe as a horrific sexual assault. According to evidence presented, the teenager had allegedly been plied with ecstasy and vodka by 41-year-old Diwan Khan until she was in a "blacked out" state.
Prosecutor Ed Wylde detailed how the girl reportedly woke up in the backseat of Khan's car with no clothes on, unable to remember what had occurred. The prosecution alleges Khan then showed her a video he had filmed of the encounter, which reportedly showed him choking and slapping her during the act.
Alleged Threats and Intimidation
The situation allegedly escalated further when Khan reportedly threatened the teenager over messages, warning that he would show the video to her mother if she spoke about what happened. Prosecutors claim he told her she "belonged" to him in an attempt to maintain her silence about the alleged attack.
When the girl's mother arrived at the school after being contacted, she found her daughter in a state of extreme distress. In her witness statement, she described her daughter as "hysterical" and "crying" uncontrollably after revealing what had allegedly occurred.
Political Figure Accused of Obstruction
The case took a dramatic turn when police arrived at the home of 61-year-old Naheed Ejaz, who had just completed her first year as Labour Mayor of Bracknell, to arrest her son on September 12, 2024. Prosecutors allege that Ejaz deliberately obstructed officers from entering her property.
According to the prosecution, Ejaz held police at her door for "some minutes" while speaking to her son in Urdu, allegedly to assist him in hiding his mobile phone. This device was believed to contain the video evidence of the alleged sexual assault.
Concealment of Evidence Alleged
Mr Wylde told the court: "We say that she was aware that this was not the phone the police were looking for, assisting Mr Khan in the concealment of the mobile phone. We say they were speaking in Urdu so that the police wouldn't know what they were talking about."
Although Khan eventually produced a phone to police, prosecutors maintain this was not the device containing the incriminating video. The prosecution suggested Ejaz's actions represented a mother's love stretching "into criminality," though they acknowledged she may not have fully understood the severity of the situation at the time.
Broader Context of the Case
The court heard additional background about the teenager's circumstances prior to the alleged attack. Her mother revealed that her daughter had gone missing several times during the summer, though she had believed she was simply with friends.
In response to these disappearances, the family had implemented various security measures including requesting the girl hand over her phone at night, installing additional locks around their home, and fitting a Ring doorbell. Despite these precautions, the prosecution claims the girl sneaked out through a kitchen window with a broken lock on the evening of the alleged assault.
Defence Arguments Presented
Defending Khan, Nadia Chbat suggested the teenager had previously lied to her mother about being "kidnapped" when she had actually run away from home. Ms Chbat questioned the girl about her behaviour during that period, asking: "You were running away from home quite a bit at the time, weren't you?"
Both defendants have entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them. Khan denies the rape allegation, while Ejaz denies perverting the course of justice. The trial continues as more evidence is expected to be presented in the coming days.
