Former Wisbech mayor Aigars Balsevics in court on rape charge

Former Wisbech mayor Aigars Balsevics has been suspended from the Conservative party after being charged with raping a woman.

The 41-year-old publican's suspension followed an emergency meeting of the North East Cambridgeshire Conservative Association called by it's chairman, Councillor Jan French, yesterday (Thursday), after news of the charge became known.

Balsevics, of Burcroft Road, Wisbech, remains a town councillor, but is now an independent.

He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court this morning charged with raping a woman in Wisbech in May last year.

The case was adjourned and Balsevics was bailed to appear at Cambridge Crown Court next month.

Cllr French said she had no choice but to convene an emergency meeting of the association's executive officers once the charge was known and said the suspension was with immediate effect.

However, she refused to comment further and said the suspension would remain in place until the conclusion of court proceedings.

"It would be wrong to comment any further at this stage," she said

Balsevics was Mayor of Wisbech in 2019/2020. He runs two pubs in the town, where he has lived for nearly 20 years.