Councillor in rape arrest

LEADING Suffolk Conservative Ben Redsell is understood to have been arrested on suspicion of raping a teenager.

Mr Redsell, 28, is county councillor for Woodbridge.

He remains a member of the authority but has stood down from all his committee positions at Endeavour House in Ipswich.

He is also a member of the Suffolk Police Authority and has stood down from that position while the investigation is continuing.

Before the 2005 general election he had been Conservative agent for Ipswich and is well-known in the town as well as the wider county.

When asked about Mr Redsell's position today, police issued this statement: "Police have arrested a 28-year-old man from the Woodbridge area on suspicion of rape after receiving an allegation from a 19-year-old woman on Friday, 24 August.

“The woman attended Woodbridge Police Station just before 6.30pm on Friday reporting that she been raped at her home address overnight Thursday 23-Friday 24 following a night out.

“The 28-year-old man was arrested at around midday on Saturday August 25, and has been released on police bail until Wednesday October 17.”

County council leader Jeremy Pembroke confirmed that Mr Redsell had stood down from his positions on the authority, but would not make any further comment.

“He has stood down for personal reasons and that is all I am prepared to say,” Mr Pembroke said.

Until stepping down Mr Redsell was a chairman of the county's education transport appeals committee.

He was also a member of its audit committee, southern area appointments committee, and statement of accounts sub-Committee.

He was also assistant to the portfolio holder for resource management and transformation.

Mr Redsell was elected to the county council at a by-election in 2004 and is the youngest member of the authority.

He is well known for his interest in young people's issues and is chairman of the Woodbridge Skatepark Project.

He was not available to comment on the situation today.