A former Labour mayor has been jailed after she assisted her son in concealing evidence following his arrest for the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
Naheed Ejaz, 61, was sentenced to three years in prison after a court found she deliberately obstructed police investigations by delaying officers and helping her son, Diwan Khan, hide a mobile phone believed to contain crucial evidence.
The court heard that officers arrived at the family home in Bracknell, Berkshire, in the early hours of 12 September 2024 to arrest Khan. Ejaz reportedly delayed entry to the property and communicated with her son in Urdu while he attempted to conceal evidence.
Prosecutors said she assisted in hiding a mobile phone linked to the sexual assault case. Although Khan later handed over a device, it was not the one investigators were seeking.
Sentencing, the judge said Ejaz “chose to protect” her son despite knowing the seriousness of the allegations, adding that her actions created a real risk of obstructing justice in a rape case involving an underage victim.
Khan, who was also convicted, was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of raping the teenager. He was also given a concurrent sentence for perverting the course of justice.
The court heard the victim had been drugged before the attack and later woke up disoriented, with no memory of the incident. She described severe emotional trauma, including ongoing mental health struggles and disruption to her education.
Winchester Crown Court was told the victim continues to suffer the long-term impact of the assault, including a suicide attempt linked to the trauma.
Ejaz previously served as Mayor of Bracknell Forest in 2023 before stepping down the following year.
