Ex-Labour councillor denies leading sex assault victim away from cops | Politics | News

A former Labor councilor has denied telling a sexual assault victim not to tell police what happened to her. The woman, who was attacked by the famous rapist and murderer Ronald Evans (85) in 2022, described how her eyes “shined” and turned “black” in the process leading up to the incident. The predator was jailed for 50 years for the murder of 21-year-old Kathleen Heathcote in 1963 and a string of sexual offenses in Bristol between 1977 and 1979.

He was released in 2018 and subsequently moved to London. In 2022 he forced a woman to go to his home and groped her after admitting he accidentally killed Ms Heathcote after covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming. In 2023, Evans was imprisoned once again for his latest attack.

The victim met Evans at an event organized by then Labor councilor Kathleen Fraser, who gave a character witness and defense statement in support of the sex offender during his trial. The woman later lodged a complaint against Fraser with the Labor Party in January 2024. In May 2025, Ms Fraser was appointed Deputy Mayor of Brent.

In June that year, 18 months after Evan’s last victim raised concerns about the party, he was suspended from the Labor Party and expelled nine months later, on 18 March this year.

The victim claimed Major Fraser, who now sits as an independent on Brent Council, told her: “Don’t report this to the police; I’ll handle it. Leave it to me. I don’t want you to be further hurt by their negative reaction.”

She allegedly begged the city councilor to report the incident to the police, but he “refused” to do so, waging a “hate lawsuit” against the victim while “protecting” Evans.

She claimed that Fraser “tried to silence” the woman.

He added: “I came home. I told my neighbour, I told my friends. Then I told Kathleen that something terrible had happened to me.”

The woman added that she “believed him” and that because she was a victim of sexual harassment and Fraser was a woman, she expected him to support her, hug her and say, “Oh my God… this is so bad.”

“I keep this,” he added, “do your job and be impartial.

“Forbid him to attend, [encourage] I need to report it to the police.”

Evans’ victim said she trusted Fraser and followed his advice.

In a witness statement to Labor, the woman wrote: “Thanks to the absolute insistence of those in authority who should have intervened on my behalf, I have put Ronald Evans behind bars so that he cannot re-offend and attack any more women.

“Kathleen Fraser is unfit to serve as a Labor Councilor and is unfit to represent the public interest. Her conduct and demeanor throughout this entire incident was completely inappropriate.

“He is not the selfless person a good councilor aspires to be, he is self-serving and only looks out for his own interests.”

Major Fraser told The Express: “I take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously. In July 2022, [the victim] When I spoke to him, I encouraged him to get appropriate support in reporting the matter to the police. I never discouraged him from contacting the police.

“I understood at that stage that the incident described occurred outside of any community activity in which I was involved and I was not aware of the individual’s background or any relevant restrictions. I therefore did not have the authority or knowledge necessary to take official action beyond encouraging the matter to be reported.

“After the incident was reported, I fully cooperated with the police investigation and made a formal statement. When I was later called as a witness, I went to court and made statements assisting the judicial process.

“My focus throughout has been to encourage appropriate reporting, support those involved, and act responsibly within the boundaries of my role in society.

“Given that this matter is subject to a criminal process, I cannot comment further on specific details.”

Labor told the victim on 1 April that her complaint was being considered by the National Constitutional Committee (NCC) at a hearing on 18 March.

He added: “Following this hearing, the NCC determined that the allegations were upheld and that the appropriate outcome was the expulsion of Major Fraser from his membership of the Labor Party.

“Commander Fraser was briefed on the outcome this afternoon.

“The case is now closed and we want to thank you for your patience during this process.”

In a statement dated 17 March, Major Fraser announced his decision to leave the Labor Party with immediate effect.

The victim described the councilman as “someone who jumps before being pushed.”