Liron Velleman was given an eight-month sentence suspended for 15 months despite a judge saying his offences were “over the custodial threshold”, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Southwark Crown Court and (inset) Louis Velleman — Southwark Crown Court and (inset) Liron Velleman

A former Barnet councillor and convicted paedophile has been handed a suspended prison sentence for committing multiple child sex offences.

The decision on Liron Velleman’s sentencing was reached today (Friday 20th) at Southwark Crown Court after being postponed in February – when a judge deemed his crimes too serious to be sentenced at magistrates court.

Velleman, a 31-year-old former Labour representative for Whetsone ward, pleaded guilty in January to two charges; attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause a child aged 13-15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

Velleman, of Holdsworth Avenue in North Finchley, faced the charges after being caught in a Metropolitan Police sting operation which occurred between 3rd December and 10th December 2024.

During this time the former Labour councillor sent sexual images and texts to a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl called Kaley.

Prior to the sentencing decision on Friday (20th) the court heard how Velleman had asked ‘Kaley’ if she was still a virgin and if she’d “ever done a ’69’?”.

“I hope you don’t mind a hairy chest,” he said before making reference to his pubic hair.

The former councillor also asked ‘Kaley’ how short girls at her school were allowed to wear their skirts. He also described how he had masturbated in a hotel alone during their conversations.

Speaking ahead of the decision, prosecutor Edmond Blackman described Velleman’s interactions with what he thought was an underaged girl as “very sexualised indeed”.

These conversations, he said, included “a short video of an adult male’s erect penis – presumably his own”.

At the sentencing Judge James Lofthouse acknowledged that Velleman’s crimes were “plainly over the custodial threshold” and that a prison sentence would be “richly merited”.

He also said Velleman’s claim that he is no longer attracted to children “simply does not make sense”.

Lofthouse said Velleman is clearly still in denial about having a “reckless, vile and frankly deviant interest in children” – and that he needed to accept this.

“To many, it is an admission you are a paedophile,” the judge added.

Speaking of Velleman’s paedophilic behaviour, he said “it is vital you address this, if not for yourself then for your child”.

“You have a young boy of your own,” Lofthouse later remarked, adding: “Think about if someone did this to your son. You would do very well to reflect on that indeed.”

Defence barrister Scott Brady said Velleman’s life had “fallen into tatters” since the offence. “The catastrophic situation” led Velleman to resign suddenly from Barnet Council in March last year and has now made him estranged from his wife and young son.

Brady said his client immediately reached out to support organisations after being arrested and has begun therapy to help tackle his issues. He added that the child sex offender has “promise awaiting to be tapped into in the future” despite his current problems.

Citing Velleman’s early guilty plea and engagement with reform programmes and therapy – as well as the current overpopulation of prisons – Judge Lofthouse ultimately gave Velleman an eight-month sentence suspended for 15 months, meaning he has been spared jail.

The judge described the sex offender as a man of previous good character whose being married and having a child made the crimes “all the more inexplicable”. The judge also argued that a custodial sentence would be more likely to hinder than help Velleman’s process of reform.

As well as the suspended sentence, the former Labour councilor is required to be on the sex offender’s register for ten years and is not allowed to be alone with any child, including his own son.

He must also complete 180 hours of community service and pay £337 in court fees by 3rd May.

If Velleman is found to have broken the law or to be in breach of any of his sentence conditions he would likely have to serve his eight-month sentence in prison – as well as potentially face further criminal charges.

Velleman appeared to be relieved as he walked out of the courtroom with his hands tucked in his pockets, accompanied by his parents.

Shortly before, in his closing remarks, Judge Lofthouse had issued a warning: “Make sure I don’t see you here again”.

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “In Barnet we take safeguarding extremely seriously and we are appalled by the offences committed by Liron Velleman. Our thoughts are with anyone affected by these crimes, and we will continue to work with partners to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding in our communities.”

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