The leader of Warwickshire County Council has been accused of risking prejudicing a child rape case with comments made in a Reform UK press conference in London.

Cllr George Finch was invited to speak by the party's national leader Nigel Farage MP on the case which has seen two men arrested and charged with offences related to the rape of a young girl in Nuneaton. 

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, has been charged with rape and was remanded to custody by Coventry Magistrates' Court on Monday, July 28.

Mohammad Kabir, 23, was later charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting rape.

Kabir appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 2, and was remanded to custody. Both defendants are scheduled to appear at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday, August 26. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has decided against publishing comments made by Cllr Finch both on social media and during Monday's address to national and international publications and broadcasters from Reform UK's Westminster headquarters due to the potential for them to be deemed as contempt of court.

Cllr Finch's comments were picked up on by the deputy political editor of The Guardian Jessica Elgot at the conference who, during questions to Mr Farage, asked: "Are you in any way concerned (that) the comments Mr Finch made earlier might put a trial and a potential conviction at risk…"

Mr Farage firmly interjected: "No."

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