Wes Streeting ex-aide Sam Gould sentenced over indecent exposures

Sam Gould, a former Labour councillor and aide to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, received a 22-week suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of indecent exposure. He exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl while parked in Romford and later followed her as she sought help. Prosecutor Jeannel Ambrose emphasized the vulnerability of the first victim and noted that a second victim, who was walking her dog, reported feeling "distressed and violated. " Gould's defense cited personal struggles as a factor in his behavior, claiming he acted out of panic when he followed the girl. Following his conviction, he resigned from his position as councillor in Redbridge, where he had been suspended from the Labour Party upon arrest.

District Judge Paul Donegan imposed a seven-year sexual harm prevention order prohibiting Gould from contacting minors. The case highlights the challenges of removing elected officials from office in such situations. Streeting had previously urged Gould to resign, marking a significant response from leadership in the Labour Party.