Ex-councillor faces child porn charges

A councillor resigned from his post before appearing in court on child pornography charges.

Andrew Lamont stood down as Kensington and Chelsea councillor for Norland ward in north Kensington on August 30. He appeared at West London magistrates' court charged with 22 counts of possessing indecent images, 17 of them children.

The partially sighted 52-year-old, who owns a venue hire business in Notting Hill, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He faces one charge of possessing an indecent photograph of a child, 16 of making indecent photographs of children, three of possessing pornographic images of animals and two of having pornographic images showing an act likely to cause serious injury.

Lamont must return to the court on October 13 when he will be committed to crown court.