TOP Suffolk Tory Ben Redsell was today accused of a string of sex offences, including attacks on a female under 16 and child pornography charges.The 28-year-old, of Melton Meadow Road, Melton, was charged with assaults on a woman and a girl, possessing and making internet porn and theft when he answered bail at Felixstowe police station around 9am today.

TOP Suffolk Tory Ben Redsell was today accused of a string of sex offences, including attacks on a female under 16 and child pornography charges.

The 28-year-old, of Melton Meadow Road, Melton, was charged with assaults on a woman and a girl, possessing and making internet porn and theft when he answered bail at Felixstowe police station around 9am today.

Anne Marie-Breach, spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “A 28-year-old man has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, two of indecent assault, three counts of possession of indecent images of children, seven counts of making indecent images of children and four counts of theft.

“Benjamin Redsell has been charged with one count of sexual assault by penetration, one of sexual assault by touching and two historic offences of indecent assault on a female under 16 years, plus the indecent image and theft charges.”

Redsell, a Woodbridge county councillor, was released on bail until his first court appearance which is due at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on December 3.

He was arrested after police received an allegation from a 19-year-old woman on Friday, August 24.

The woman attended Woodbridge police station to report she had been attacked at her home address overnight on August 23-24 following a night out.

After his arrest Redsell remained a member of the county council, but 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.

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.

A spokesman for Suffolk's Conservative party today said he had stood down from his position on the county council: “Ben Redsell has today resigned from the Conservative group on Suffolk County Council.

“This follows the decision of Suffolk police to press charges against him.

“Anyone with issues relating to his council division will be able to speak instead to Councillor Clare Aitchison.”