Description
A former Barnet councillor who abruptly quit last year has pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences.
Liron Velleman, elected as a Labour councillor for Whetstone ward in 2022, resigned from the council in April without explanation and also left his role at the Community trade union.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court yesterday, he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.
The court heard that Velleman sent the girl naked pictures of himself and asked whether she was “at home alone”. He also told her to “show me your bra” and asked “whether she was a virgin”.
The offences occurred between December 3 and 10, 2024, and were uncovered in a Metropolitan Police sting operation.
Defence barrister Ali Hussain said Velleman had been suffering from depression and described him as “a person of good character.”
He added:
“He is currently unemployed. He is a family man. There is a great deal about his background which will assist the court to see how exactly he came to find himself in this position.”
Velleman will be sentenced on February 10 at the same court.
Upon his resignation, a Labour Party spokesperson told Barnet Post: “Liron Velleman has resigned from Barnet Council and is no longer a member of the Labour Party,” while a Community union spokesperson said: “Liron Velleman no longer works for Community.”