Reform council leader risks contempt of court over comment about asylum seeker rape case
George Finch, 19, the Warwickshire county council leader, risked falling foul of the law with a comment about the case at a Reform UK press conference in central London on Monday.
Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged last week with the rape of the girl in Nuneaton, while Mohammad Kabir, 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation.
Mr Finch appeared to acknowledge the legal risks of commenting on the case, saying he was told that 'if I released this I would be in contempt of court'.
Warwickshire Police reportedly advised local councillors and officials not to reveal the asylum-seeker background of the two suspects, for fear of 'inflaming community tensions'.
Warwickshire Police has not denied reports that Mr Mulakhil and Mr Kabir are asylum seekers.
The pair have appeared at Coventry magistrates' court and were both remanded in custody until an appearance at Warwick Crown Court on Aug 26.
In a statement, the force said that once someone is charged with an offence, it follows national guidance which 'does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status'.
Farage: We need to care about protecting children
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, was asked during the press conference if he was concerned that Mr Finch's comments might put a trial and potential conviction at risk.
He replied: 'I can imagine if I was leader of Warwickshire county council and I was getting the level of distress from voters and residents that George is feeling, if that means that he was slightly emotional, well, do you know what, good.
'Perhaps we really do need to start actually really thinking and caring about protecting children.'
Contempt of court laws are in place to stop people from sharing information which could prejudice active legal proceedings.
The Telegraph is unable to repeat Mr Finch's claims because it would risk putting this newspaper in contempt of court.
The attorney general, an office currently occupied by Lord Hermer, has the power to deal with incidents of contempt by instituting proceedings against people in the High Court.
However, this power is 'reserved for rare circumstances where the wider public interest requires it', according to official guidance.
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