Judge deemed Liron Velleman’s offences too serious to deal with at magistrates level and referred the case to crown court instead, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Highbury Corner Magistrates Court and (inset, credit Barnet Council) Liron Velleman

A former Barnet councillor’s sentencing for child sex offences has been postponed after his case was deemed too serious to be dealt with by magistrates.

Liron Velleman, a 30-year-old former Labour representative for Whetsone ward, pleaded guilty to attempting multiple child sex offences in January this year.

Appearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court today (Tuesday 10th) Velleman of Holdsworth Avenue, North Finchley, was told sentencing for his crimes, which include attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, should be carried out at Harrow Crown Court.

Explaining her decision, District Judge Ashwinder Kaur Gill noted that sentencing guidelines outline potential for an 18-month prison term, which is beyond the powers of a magistrates court.

Speaking on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) before the decision, Zahid Hussain said: “There must be a deterrent sentence because paedophilia has reached epidemic proportions and is perpetrated by defendants like the one who sits before you.”

The prosecutor added that earlier mitigation outlining Velleman’s lack of previous convictions, cautions or warnings, should no longer be accepted as his guilty plea demonstrated he could no longer argue he was a person of “good character”.

The court heard how, during a Metropolitan Police sting operation, which occured between 3rd December and 10th December 2024, Velleman believed he was talking with a 13-year-old girl.

Using a false social media ID he sent 21 pages-worth of messages on his phone as well as a live video of his erect penis. He sent multiple requests to see what he thought was an under-aged child in her bra and pyjamas, adding: “Open your dressing gown, I want to see what’s underneath.”

The former Labour councillor also asked “are you home alone?” and followed up, saying “I did enjoy wanking”.

Defence barrister Ali Hussain accepted the decision to raise the sentencing to crown court but asked for reporting restrictions on some elements of the case because members of the Jewish community “have been the target of a certain level of discrimination in the past few months”.

He added that Velleman, who is Jewish, had received multiple antisemetic threats online, since news broke of his conviction in January this year and expressed concerns for the safety of his client. Hussain also expressed concern for the safety of Velleman’s mother, who Velleman now lives with after being estranged from his partner and their child.

However, these restrictions were denied, in part because the defence had failed to submit the neccesary forms.

Velleman was released on bail pending sentencing with bail conditions stipulating that he cannot be in the company of anyone under the age of 18 unless supervised by an adult aware of these measures. He is also now required to be on the sex offenders’ register.

The date of Velleman’s sentencing at Harrow Crown Court has yet to be announced.

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