A former Labour councillor has been spared jail over the sexual assault of a woman at his wife’s leaving do in the Square Mile.
Daniel Lee-Phakoe, 38, pinched her bottom at least ten times inside upmarket Devonshire Terrace cocktail bar near London Liverpool Street Station.
During the evening, he was “unrelenting” even though his wife was stood feet away on May 5, 2023.
Lee-Phakoe, who was twice elected to Newham Council to represent the ward of Plaistow North, resigned from his role in October 2023.
He was charged with a criminal offence in April last year and pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. But he was convicted by a jury after a trial this year.
At Snaresbrook crown court on Thursday, Judge Nicholas Ainley spared Lee-Phakoe a prison term.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 250 hours of community service and ten days of rehabilitation work.
The victim of the attack said after the conviction: “The assault itself has left me feeling dirty, disrespected and a worthless woman who had suddenly become the focus of unwanted and disgusting sexual touching, demands for sex in a public toilet and being physically trapped in spite of attempts to move.
“His approach was both violating, aggressive and manipulative in assaulting me in a public place with his wife in the same bar and only a short distance away.
“This has been a horrendous experience.
“This sexual assault was unforgivable and I made the complaint to stop this happening to other women and to stand up to a sexual predator who has no idea or care of the impact of what he did to me.”
Passing sentence, the judge said Lee-Phakoe “subjected the complainant to what could only be described as an ordeal and I believe her story entirely.
“The victim had been subjected to a distressing and humiliating experience and did nothing whatsoever to invite such abuse.”
He added that Lee-Phakoe “challenged her integrity - which was cowardly - and utterly failed”.
The incident happened after Lee-Phakoe’s wife had arranged drinks at the venue in Devonshire Square as she was moving departments within Newham Council.
A friend of the victim told the court how Lee-Phakoe pestered her to go to the toilets with him.
“After what seemed like an exceptionally long time, he finally left the table and the victim asked me to leave with her as she felt unsafe leaving on her own.
“I’ve known her many years and I’ve never seen her so frightened.”
Lee-Phakoe, of Libra Road, Plaistow, will now be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next five years.
Detective Constable Sarah Elsom, from City of London Police, said: “Lee-Phakoe was in a position of power and sexually abused a victim who should have been able to enjoy her night without the threatening male touching her and making numerous overt sexual advances.
“We take violence against women and girls extremely seriously and I hope this will encourage more women to come forward against men who believe they are untouchable due to the high office they hold.”
