A Peterborough councillor, Rylan Ray, has been further remanded in custody at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday following charges of rape and 25 other sexual offences. Ray, 25, is due to appear again on 10 February, potentially via video link.
No trial date has yet been set, but the proceedings are expected to last between two and eight weeks. At this stage, he has not entered a plea to any of the charges.
Background and initial hearings
Ray, formerly a Conservative councillor for Eye, Thorney and Newborough, is now an independent following his suspension from the party.
He appeared at the hearing in Suffolk on Friday, confirming his identity and acknowledging that he understood the need to attend trial. No applications regarding bail were made, and no plea was entered.
Ray first appeared via video link before Luton magistrates in November, when the full list of charges was presented. These include:
- One count of rape of a man aged 16 or over
- Three counts of sexual assault on a male
- Seven counts of causing or inciting a teenage boy to engage in sexual activity
- Four counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
Two additional charges have since been added. The alleged offences are reported to have occurred between 2021 and 2025.
Councillor status and allowances
Despite being on remand, Ray remains a member of Peterborough City Council and continues to receive his monthly allowance of £1,000.
Under the Peterborough City Council Members’ Allowances Scheme, a councillor who has not been convicted and sentenced to more than three months in prison remains entitled to the basic allowance. Local government legislation disqualifies councillors only if they are convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for three months or more without the option of a fine.
Matt Gladstone, Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council, confirmed this position in an internal communication, reminding staff of their obligations under sub judice rules and the importance of protecting victim anonymity.
Professional and personal background
Ray’s public profiles indicate he has held several council roles, including Licensing Committee Chair (November 2023 to May 2024) and Cabinet Adviser to the council leader (May 2023 to November 2023). He has also worked as a team leader for HM Courts and Tribunals Service and has experience with the Ministry of Justice and the British Army.
He was elected to Peterborough City Council in 2022 as a Conservative councillor and was among the council’s youngest members.
Political and civic response
Local political leaders have commented on the charges while emphasising the importance of the legal process:
- Councillor Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council, described the allegations as “appalling” and expressed confidence in the judicial process.
- Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, Leader of the Conservative Group, confirmed Ray’s suspension from both the council’s Conservative group and the national party.
- Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes stated that the charges were “serious” and welcomed the police action, while stressing the need for due process.
Elections and local government reform
Ray was elected with a majority of over 700 votes and would normally have been up for re-election in May. This year’s elections have been postponed as council officers prepare for local government reforms, which could see Peterborough City Council become an enlarged unitary authority, potentially incorporating Huntingdonshire District Council and Fenland District Council.
Disclaimer: Rylan Ray has been charged with offences but has not entered a plea. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
