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Lee Jasper channelled City Hall funding to two projects run by a woman whom he bombarded with sexually charged emails, the Standard can reveal.
The Mayor's senior aide sent a string of messages to Karen Chouhan, the company secretary of the 1990 Trust and director of the Black Londoners' Forum.
In one message to the 50-year-old married mother of three he calls darling, he wrote: "I love thee [sic] feet, ankles, legs, thighs, bum and belly, arms, head and brain. But most of all I love you in a flaming red sari, bangles, chains or failing that in a bikini!"
Days later the 1990 Trust was given £65,000 by City Hall.
Mr Jasper did not declare his relationship with Mrs Chouhan or any interest in either organisation.
Today both Mr Jasper, 49, a married father of nine, and Mrs Chouhan denied any impropriety. She said the emails were "banter" and that they had not been sexually involved.
But a separate document shows Mr Jasper recommended at least £100,000 be given to two organisations of which Mrs Chouhan was a board member. They are among 13 named by the Evening Standard as doing little or nothing of public benefit for their funding.
Click on the links below to read the original emails between Lee Jasper and Karen Chouhan
"Torrid and passionate embrace..."
"How many ways do I love thee?"
"There is lots to talk about..."
Reader views (4)
When are people going to be brought to account for all this money that is being spent on 'special interest' groups, most of which seem to provide little benefit to anyone but the organisations themselves. Taxpayers money is being thrown around willy nilly it seems.
- Jon, London
He earns over £15,000 a year - why is he living in social housing which is intended for low earners?
- Richard, Balham
These should not have been published - his poor wife!
- Charlie, London
How can this man still have a job, if this is what he is doing with the money London's children so badly need. He is earning over £150,000 each year, and controls millions on the behalf of Mr. Livingstone. Something must be done.
- Josh, London, Docklands
