British court convicts first-ever eastern European mayor
British Crown Court on Tuesday convicted a 42-year-old man hailed as Britain’s first ever eastern European mayor, Aigars Balsevics, who reportedly raped a woman who repeatedly asked him to stop the act.
Balsevics who became Conservative mayor of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in May 2020, was found guilty of two counts of rape at Peterborough Crown Court.
Reports revealed the court heard how Balsevics went into the woman’s home in Wisbech on May 24 2021 and raped her – despite her crying and repeatedly telling him no. She then tried to get away, but he stopped her from leaving the room and raped her again.
After the attack, the distressed victim contacted two friends who arrived at her home and Balsevics left.
She, however reported the incident to police and Balsevics was arrested the following day and has since been suspended from the local Conservative party.
Meanwhile, Balsevics denied two charges of rape and went on trial but was found guilty on both counts Tuesday and will be sentenced on August 11.
DC Katie Housham said, ‘I would like to commend the victim for her bravery throughout and I hope this conviction will help her as she tries to rebuild her life.
‘Balsevics ignored her repeated pleas for him to stop and even refused to let her leave when she tried to get away.
‘I’m pleased he has now faced justice for his actions.
‘I would like to encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to report it to the police.
‘Your report will be taken very seriously, and we will always treat you with the utmost sensitivity and respect.’
Balsevics, who was born in Latvia, is believed to have moved to the UK in 2003 and became a town councillor 13 years later, in 2016.
Balsevics became Conservative mayor of Wisbech when he was made chairman of the town council in May 2020.
He runs three pubs in Wisbech but was stripped of his licence in 2021 after breaking Covid regulations by allowing customers to hug and kiss on Christmas Eve in 2020.
