Councillor Simon Williams calls for resignation of Harrow representative David Gawn after fraud and attempted theft sentencing

1:30pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News By Emma Innes

A councillor has called on a fellow representative to resign following his sentencing for attempted theft and fraud.

In an open letter, the Conservative Harrow-on-the-Hill councillor Simon Williams, called for Labour's Cllr David Gawn to take responsibility for the "serious" crimes he committed and step down immediately.

On December 20 Cllr Gawn, the Labour representative for Harrow-on-the-Hill, was given a ten week suspended jail sentence and a six-week curfew.

Cllr Williams wrote: “You were sentenced for committing two counts of a very serious crime against a very vulnerable person. It took multiple appearances in court for you to finally admit guilt and receive your sentence.

“You were elected as a Labour councillor for Harrow-on-the-Hill ward in May 2010, and continue to unashamedly hold the position as ward councillor to this day.

“As another councillor for Harrow-on-the-Hill, I am urging you to properly understand the duties of the role in which you were elected to serve; to take responsibility for the serious crimes you committed, and to resign immediately.”

He added: “While you may feel it acceptable for Harrow residents to be represented by a criminal, I personally feel they deserve better than that, and once again call on you to resign.”

Cllr Williams is not the only councillor to have called for Cllr Gawn’s resignation.

Cllr Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Irrespective of the sentence passed, Cllr Gawn should resign from the council.

“We councillors are community leaders. Residents elect us to represent them and their interests.

“Cllr Gawn has betrayed the public’s trust through his criminal actions. He now has a moral obligation to resign.”

Cllr Gawn, 35, of Lankers Drive, South Harrow, was first elected in 2006 and formed Harrow Community Radio with three friends at the Wealdstone Centre in High Street in December 2011.

Comments(12)

harrowKing says...
4:36pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Was Robert Benson a Conservative councillor for Harrow Weald was asked to resign by his ward or Conservative colleagues when he pleaded guilty of a sex offence and was fined in 2008?
Cllr Gawn has been convicted for the wrongs he did - what about the ‘community leaders’ who preach morality but practice double standard?

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starbright says...
8:27pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Harrow King I do not care what anyone's political persuasion is Cllr Gawn committed an offence he should have been sacked, or tendered his resignation by now!

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Harrow Rani says...
9:44am Tue 29 Jan 13

I cannot beleive that this is even open for debate. As a Councillor, he has a moral obligation to be a law abiding citizen, and I am afraid that being convicted of fraud should make his position untennable. I certainly hope he is not being paid any allowances from the taxpayer while he remains in his post. In the private sector, this would be deemed to be a sackable offence and there would be no question of someone who is guilty of fraud to be retained in their position. Why has he not been dismissed? Moreover, why have the people of the ward he represents not been calling for his resignation. The apathy is in this borough is mind blowing!

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harrowKing says...
10:03pm Tue 29 Jan 13

What Councillor Simon Williams has done for HoH residents, anyway – did he turn up at the Council meeting on the Council Tax Benefits to represent his ward - does he understand his duties??

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Harrow Rani says...
10:17am Wed 30 Jan 13

Harrow King your comment above is irrelevant. You may have a gripe about the way in which Cllr Williams does his job, but, that is not the same as being convicted of a crime and then refusing to do the right thing by stepping down. It costs the taxpayer of Harrow money to keep his ego in check! You cannot possibly support someone without any moral fibre to continue in the post of Cllr. If you live in the ward he represents, you should not be supporting him. That is just wrong on every level and frankly, I am in agreement with Cllr Williams that this fraudster should resign or be sacked.

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jackdaw says...
9:09pm Wed 30 Jan 13

There is a a mystery to be solved.

If you look up Councillors on the Harrow.gov. website you will see that Councillor Gawn is now listed as Independent.

When did he change his allegiance and were the voters on Harrow on the Hill informed?

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Sue Anderson says...
10:30pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Not all that mysterious. David Gawn is no longer a member of Harrow Labour Group or of the Labour Party, so cannot describe himself as a Labour councillor. The law is that a councillor who has received a custodial sentence of 3 months plus is automatically disbarred from office. If found guilty but sentenced to a lesser penalty it is left to the individual councillor's conscience whether they resign or not. Local authorities and political parties do not have the power to "sack" councillors.

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Harrow Alan says...
1:34am Thu 31 Jan 13

Councillor Anderson, can you confirm when he left the Labour group?

iHarrow said last week that the Labour leader said he had not spoken to councillor Gawn about his crimes or about resigning, and now you are saying that councillor Gawn is no longer part of the Labour group.

So were you happy for councillor Gawn to stay in the Labour group until you started getting phone calls from journalists about it?

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starbright says...
11:42am Thu 31 Jan 13

Harrow Alan well said!

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Harrow Rani says...
2:41pm Tue 5 Feb 13

But has he resigned as Councillor? The questions won't go away just because the story has been buried.

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jackdaw says...
11:49am Wed 6 Feb 13

I have just read on the i.harrow.com website that Couinciller Gate claimed his allowance from his resignation date of September until December 2012.

Counciller Gawn claimes his allowance and continues to do so. Perhaps the Harrow Times can find out what he is doing for the Harrow on the Hill residents that justifies this claim for allowances.

Also what example does a person with a criminal conviction provide. He also tarnishes the reputation of the other councillors because we are now wondering what chicanery they may be hiding. He has betrayed every current Harrow Councillor because the public are now regarding them all with a jaundiced eyeye.

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jackdaw says...
11:51am Wed 6 Feb 13

Apologies for wrong spelling of councillor my indignation cancelled out my proof reading.

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