Councillor guilty of sex offences against teenage girl

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg37wm388ro

A Fife councillor has been found guilty of sexual offences against a teenage girl over a seven-month period.
David Graham, who was suspended from the Labour party two years ago, groomed and sexually abused the girl at a variety of locations in the Fife and Edinburgh areas in 2023.
The 43-year-old was convicted of offences involving sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15 following a trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
He is due to be sentenced on 19 August.

Speaking after Graham's conviction, Fife Council leader David Ross said details of the abuse revealed at the trial had been "truly shocking".
The Labour councillor added: "This is appalling behaviour by anyone, let alone an elected councillor - and the sentence will reflect the seriousness of this case.
"Our sympathies go out to the young person involved.
"It is impossible to express how badly David Graham has let down his colleagues and the people he was elected to represent."
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The party is taking immediate action to exclude David Graham from membership of the Labour Party following his conviction."
Police Scotland Det Insp Graham Watson described Graham as "a manipulative individual who groomed and sexually abused his teenage victim".
The officer added: "He was well-known and in a position of power when the offending took place.
"I would like to thank the female for her assistance in bringing him to justice."

[Artaxerxes II]

More: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scot ... y-35606492

David Graham, who was at senior politician on Fife Council, has been described by police as a "manipulative individual who groomed and sexually abused his teenage victim."

A Scottish Labour councillor has been convicted of sexual offences against a teenage girl.

David Graham, who was a senior politician on Fife Council, was found guilty on Wednesday, July 23, following a trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

The offences took place at various locations in Fife and Edinburgh between February and August 2023. The 43-year-old will be sentenced at a later date.

Graham was suspended by the Labour party in August 2023 when allegations first came to light. They have now confirmed to the Record that will take "immediate action" to exclude him from membership.

Detective Inspector Graham Watson of Police Scotland said: "Graham is a manipulative individual who groomed and sexually abused his teenage victim. He was well-known and in a position of power when the offending took place.

“I would like to thank the female for her assistance in bringing him to justice. We remain committed to investigating all reports of sexual crime and would encourage anyone affected to report it.

"Every report is taken seriously and will be fully investigated, no matter how much time has passed, with support from our specially trained officers and partner agencies."

Fife Council said in 2023 that Graham had stepped down from his appointments "pending" the outcome of the probe.

Up until his suspension, he sat on the cabinet committee as the spokesperson for health and social care. He was also appointed as a non-executive director on the board of NHS Fife and represented Fife at the council umbrella body Cosla.

However, Graham has remained councillor for the Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss villages ward, while also sitting on the Levenmouth Area Committee and Full Council. He was first elected to office in 2012.

Councillors in Scotland can not be dismissed as elected members following the outcome of a trial as they are not employees. But a councillor would be disqualified from holding elected office if they are sentenced to three or more months imprisonment.

In the event that a councillor becomes disqualified or resigns from office, a by-election will take place.

A Labour spokesperson said: “The Party is taking immediate action to exclude David Graham from membership of the Labour Party following his conviction.“

A Fife Council spokesperson said: "Fife Council acknowledges that following a trial, Cllr David Graham was convicted on 23 July 2025 of offences under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. It would be inappropriate for the council to make any further comment before sentencing takes place in August."