The Liberal Democrats have suspended a candidate ahead of the General Election after he was questioned over allegations of historic child sex offences.
Jason Zadrozny, who was standing in the constituency of Ashfield against Labour MP Gloria de Piero, who is defending a majority of less than 200 votes, was quizzed by officers over accusations of abuse relating to a 16 year old boy, the Daily Mail reports.
Mr Zadrozny, who only narrowly lost against Ms De Piero in 2010, “vehemently” denies the allegations. He said he would step down as the Liberal Democrat candidate while he fights to clear his name.
In a statement, he revealed that the allegations made against him are over 10 years old.
He said: “I am today withdrawing my candidacy as a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Ashfield and Eastwood Constituency.
“Yesterday I was questioned by Nottinghamshire Police about historic allegations, some of which are over ten years old.
“I am in full cooperation with the police and vehemently refute the allegations.
“I have spent the last ten years championing the cause of the Liberal Democrats both locally and nationally and I do not want this allegation to detract from the real issues facing local residents in the upcoming elections.
“Therefore I will step down with immediate effect as the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate to spend my time clearing my name.”
Nottinghamshire police confirmed that a man had been questioned and released on bail following an investigation into historic sexual offences.
They released a statement detailing that a 34-year-old man was arrested and questioned “about an allegation of gross indecency with a male under 16 between September 2003 and April 2004, sexual activity with a child between May 2004 and December 2007 and an allegation of meeting a child under 16 following sexual grooming from May 2004 and December 2007.”
They confirmed the alleged offences all related to one victim. Mr Zadrozny has been bailed until June.
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