Canterbury councillor Roger Matthews acquitted - but developer Julian Brealy convicted of corruption
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A Kent property
developer has been warned he could be facing a jail sentence after
a jury convicted him of corruption.
The verdict on Julian Brealy came shortly after Canterbury city
councillor Roger Matthews was acquitted of the charge.
The jury of six men and six women found estate agent and
property developer Brealy guilty by a 10-2 majority. He was granted
conditional bail until sentence on April 13.
Brealy, of Mandarin Lane, Herne Bay, and Mr Matthews, of
Beltinge Road, Herne Bay, denied the charge.
Mr Matthews, 58, was alleged to have corruptly received benefit
by way of unpaid rent as a reward for promoting the interests of
Brealy, 51, and two of his companies, Herne Bay Golf Club and
Hollanby Estates Ltd.
His landlord was Hollanby Estates. Brealy is managing director
and a shareholder in the family business.
Mr Matthews, who represented Greenhill and Eddington, denied he
showed favour to Brealy in return for being allowed to live rent
free for almost six years between May 2002 and July 2008 and
failing to pay around £36,000.
Judge David Griffith-Jones QC ordered Brealy to surrender his
passport and banned him from obtaining travel documents after
hearing he was a director of Heron Helicopters. He will also have
to report to police once a week.
Philip Noble, defending, said he would be arguing there were
"exceptional facts and other matters" that could enable a suspended
prison sentence to be imposed.
"What is clear from the verdicts of the jury is they accept Mr
Matthews did not corrupt him," he said.
The judge said he made it absolutely clear that in adjourning
sentence for reports there would be anything other than immediate
imprisonment.
But he added he would consider all the material put before
him.
Speaking after his acquittal, Cllr Matthews said: "The whole
thing has been hell for me. I knew I had done nothing wrong but you
can never tell how it was going to go.
"When the verdict was read out I felt numb. I’d been told I
faced up to two-and-a-half years in prison which just added to the
pressure.
"I’m a very relieved man today. I’ve received so many texts and
calls from people congratulating me and saying they always knew I
was innocent."
Cllr Matthews said he had yet to decide whether to stand at the
next local elections.
He said: "It’s something I have to think about. The jury has
come to the right decision today, but mud sticks."
Friday, March 19 2010
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