Former council leader jailed

A former Kent council leader has been jailed for 18 months for misconduct in public office after using confidential information to secure lucrative property deals.

Maurice 'Sandy' Ezekiel, who led Thanet District Council for seven years, was convicted after a two-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Co-defendant Philip Emanuel, from Margate, was found guilty of aiding and abetting Ezekiel. He was given a suspended prison sentence.

Tom Savvides was in court and speaks to Nigel Pilkington of the Crown Prosecution Service and Det Sgt Ady Brown of Kent Police.

Former council leader Sandy Ezekiel has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after being found guilty of four counts of misconduct in a public office.

Ezekiel, who was in charge of Thanet District Council, was accused of dishonestly buying a council house.

In the same hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Philip Emanuel, 64, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years for aiding and abetting him.

A former council leader has been found guilty of misconduct in a public office. Sandy Ezekiel, who was in charge of Thanet District Council, was accused of dishonestly buying a council house. Tom Savvides reports.

The former council leader of Thanet District Council - Sandy Ezekiel, has been found guilty of misconduct in public office. He has been found guilty on four counts of misconduct in public office. The charges relate to a council property in Margate, Kent.

In the same hearing at Maidstone Crown Court Philip Emanuel, aged sixty-four, has been found guilty of aiding and abetting him.