Merton councillor and former deputy mayor Sam Chaudhry has been granted conditional bail after appearing in court charged with sexual offences.

Coun Chaudhry appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court last week charged with 11 counts of indecent assault on three females.

Coun Chaudhrys solicitor, Mr Ambridge, indicated his client intends to enter pleas of not guilty when the case goes to the crown court and the prosecution requested a months adjournment before the case is transferred.

Three of the charges against the councillor who would have been Mertons first Asian mayor, but stood down because of ill-health date back to the 1960s, with the most recent occurring between January 2000 and February 2001.

During his court appearance, the defendant spoke only to confirm he was still living at his home in Colliers Wood.

Bail conditions require Coun Chaudhry to surrender his two passports and prohibit him from applying for any travel documents. He must also stay at his home address, make no contact with the three alleged victims, report to Wimbledon police station daily and provide a surety of £10,000 until the start of the trial.

Coun Chaudhry has been suspended from the Labour party and Merton Councils Labour group pending the outcome of the court action. He is due to re-appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on July 25.