Parents Tell Of Torment After Sex Assaults On Their Children (from Thurrock Gazette)

"Among his supporters at Basildon Crown Court was former borough mayor and current councillor Gerard Rice. In a statement to the court he said: "Mr Edmeades worked for me from May 1997 to January 2001 at Benson Bedstore in Lakeside retail park, Lakeside. He was trustworthy, diligent, totally reliable with our customers and gave the company good service "He also assisted me throughout my term as mayor of Thurrock, dealing with many constituents, case work and helping at civil functions at the council."

Two of the parents of abused children are so angered by councillor Rice's support for Edmeades that they have made a formal complaint to the council and the matter has been reported to the authority's standards committee."
[Rep]