City’s youngest mayor faces fraud charges

Andrew Williams, 43, a former Mayor of Ripon, will appear before Harrogate Magistrates’ Court next month, following an eight-month police inquiry by North Yorkshire Police.

Yesterday a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police confirmed charges had been brought.

He said: “A 43-year-old man from Ripon has been charged with fraud by abuse of position following an incident in Ripon on June 4, 2012.

“He is due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on November 5,” the police spokesman added yesterday.

It is understood the charges refer to the alleged theft of several hundred pounds, a sum thought to relate to the staging of the city’s Jubilee celebrations last June.

Williams has served as mayor of Yorkshire’s smallest city twice and was was the youngest mayor in Ripon’s history when he held the position during his first term in 2007/8.

He was detained in February, while serving his second term of office in 2012/13.