A significant incident in East London has emerged involving Sam Gould, a senior caseworker for Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who allegedly exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl before pursuing her down a street. The events unfolded on Saturday when the girl, reportedly on her way to meet friends, saw Gould, aged 33, naked in his car while performing a sex act. According to a report by The Sun, upon realising the situation, the girl fled from the scene in Romford.

As the girl ran, Gould allegedly followed her into a cul-de-sac, prompting her to bang on doors in a desperate attempt to seek help. A passing motorist intervened, providing assistance and noting down Gould’s car registration number. This information enabled the police to locate and arrest Gould later that day.

On Monday, Gould appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure. Following the court proceedings, he was released on bail, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 7. In light of these allegations, Gould has been suspended from the Labour Party and has also resigned from his position in Streeting’s Ilford constituency office.

In response to the charges against Gould, Wes Streeting expressed profound concern regarding the impact on the victims, stating, “There are no words to express my horror that a mother and her daughter have been put through this ordeal, and will have to deal with the trauma of it for some time to come.” He noted that as soon as he became aware of Gould’s arrest, he initiated suspensions and has since called for Gould to resign from his position as a Redbridge councillor.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party condemned the seriousness of the allegations, highlighting that immediate measures were taken to suspend Gould from both his constituency office and the party pending the investigation. They stated, “We will not be providing any further comment during legal proceedings.”

Redbridge Council leader, Cllr Kam Rai, also expressed shock and disappointment regarding Gould’s actions. Rai remarked, “My heart goes out to the victims who have had to endure his despicable behaviour.” He reiterated that while Gould’s suspension from the party was swift, there is no current process to suspend him from council duties, calling for his immediate resignation as a councillor.

The council has confirmed that the Metropolitan Police Service is handling the matter and has begun criminal proceedings against Gould, marking a significant development within the council’s operations. They stated, “As a council, we are deeply disturbed by this matter,” and that steps have been taken to restrict Gould’s access to council systems.

This incident raises multiple concerns regarding public safety, the role of elected officials, and the broader implications for governance in the local area, as the community awaits further legal proceedings against Sam Gould.

Source: Noah Wire Services