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Father of Leicestershire councillor David Sprason calls for inquiry into leaked letter

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The father of former county council deputy leader David Sprason has called for an inquiry to find who leaked a letter that ultimately led to his son being sacked from the post.

Ron Sprason claimed his son's political career had been sabotaged by the person who leaked a 2007 letter to the Leicester Mercury about a hardcore pornographic DVD found in the disc drive of Coun Sprason's council laptop.

The letter had been sent by the then county council's solicitor to Coun Sprason.

The councillor gave a frank interview to the Mercury about the find, which led to widespread national media coverage, and he voluntarily stepped down from his senior posts while Tory party whips investigated the matter.

Last week, his Conservative colleagues voted for him not to be re-appointed as deputy leader or a cabinet member, but stopped short of supporting a recommendation that he serve a two-month suspension from the Tory group.

His father, an 84-year-old former soldier, e-mailed senior officers at County Hall on Tuesday night demanding the leak be traced.

Mr Sprason told the Mercury: "I thought long and hard about it.

"I spoke to David and told him what I had in mind.

"He most certainly has not put me up to it.

"He was reluctant but I said I was upset he wouldn't let me. In the end he said 'You are your own man. It's up to you'.

"This has had a terrible effect on David, who worked very hard behind the scenes."

Mr Sprason, from Markfield, said: "I have had e-mails in support of David from Conservative county councillors.

"He has been punished, not for what he did in 2007, but for speaking honestly when asked about it by a journalist. He was too honest – but that is David for you.

"It worries me a confidential letter has been leaked and that more personal information held by the council could come out."

A County Hall spokesman said: "The chief executive has previously advised the Conservative group that he's satisfied the leak of the letter didn't involve any member of our staff.

"Therefore, the council does not intend to carry out any further investigation."

Conservative council leader Nick Rushton told the Mercury: "I did get the e-mail but I can't do anything with it. I will not be looking into this any further. It is time to draw a line under this."

A spokesman for Sir Clive Loader said to date he had not received Mr Sprason's e-mail.

Father of  Leicestershire councillor David Sprason calls for inquiry into leaked letter


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