After disgraced Isle of Wight councillor Daryll Pitcher had been found guilty in February of child rape charges, the IW council stated that they could not comment because the court case was ongoing.
Therefore, on Wednesday afternoon this week, as soon as the judge had sentenced Pitcher to just over a year in prison and another on licence, News OnTheWight wrote once again to the Isle of Wight council.
IWC: Refuse to comment
This morning, after chasing for a response, a spokesperson for Isle of Wight council told News OnTheWight,
“My apologies but I have been advised that we cannot provide a comment at this time.”
Automatic disqualification
According to the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill 2022, it appears that Pitcher would be automatically disqualified from holding the role of Isle of Wight councillor. It reads:
“Regarding criminal activity not related to election practices, a person is disqualified from standing for election or holding public office if they have been convicted of any offence and have received a sentence of imprisonment (suspended or not) for a period of no less than three months (without the option of a fine) or more in the five-year period before the relevant election.”
The 46-year-old was found guilty of two counts of rape of a girl under the age of 13, between June 1990 and March 1992, when he was himself was between the ages of 13 and 15.
Editor’s comment
It seems strange that the Isle of Wight council did not have a statement prepared in advance of the sentencing, ready to respond to the many inevitable media requests for comment.
Their refusal to comment at all, is equally baffling.
