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Sex scandal woman begs Lewis: Tell the truth and say sorry
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter14.07.08
The woman at the centre of a City Hall sex scandal today pleaded with disgraced former deputy mayor Ray Lewis to stop lying and say sorry for his past behaviour.
Mr Lewis, a married father-ofthree, is accused of sexual misconduct over unwanted advances made to a parishioner during his time as a Church of England vicar in east London.
His alleged victim - a former church worker - agreed to speak to the Evening Standard after declaring: "I am not scared of him any more."
The woman, 46, who does not wish to be named, said: "I am not here to rubbish Ray Lewis. He just needs to tell the truth and say sorry to me, to other women and to his wife."
Mr Lewis allegedly propositioned the woman - who rejected his advances - during a Christian conference in Birmingham in the mid-Nineties after booking just one hotel bedroom for both of them. It is then alleged he spread false rumours about her, forcing her to leave St Matthew's Church in West Ham. She described Mr Lewis as "very vindictive".
The woman's allegations are contained in an explosive Church of England dossier, which also includes details of alleged financial impropriety. Mr Lewis, who denies all accusations levelled at him, was subsequently banned by the Church from acting as a parish vicar. He quit St Matthew's in 1997.
The Church findings only came to light last week - two months after Mr Lewis, director of the Eastside Young Leaders Academy for black boys in east London, was appointed deputy mayor by Boris Johnson.
The woman, who refused to say exactly what happened in the hotel out of respect for Mr Lewis's loyal wife, said today: "It was devastating. All I want him to do is tell the truth and then he can move on and be the great man he is destined to be. He is an excellent orator and very charismatic.
"The work he is doing with black boys is really important. But there is a way for black men to be treating black women."
The woman, now a mother-oftwo and a successful IT consultant and entrepreneur, who lives in north-east London, told how she was astonished to discover Mr Lewis had denied the claims in a briefing with City Hall officials last Thursday.
According to City Hall sources, he backed up his denial by calling in another former church worker Anne Collard, who now works at Eastside Academy. She said she was also at the conference, shared a hotel room with the woman and that Mr Lewis never behaved inappropriately.
But the woman said: "Anne Collard wasn't there."
Ms Collard's former husband said he had no recollection of his then wife going away for a night to a conference with Mr Lewis.
Reader views (6)
This is a serious accusation. Lewis clearly has no respect for women and no remorse for his appalling behaviour. Behaviour that was deemed bad enough to get him sacked from the church. I'm sure his dismissal wasn't done on a whim, without a proper investigation.
Its obvious why she would speak up now. It is an insult to see your abuser striding on ahead in his career with an air of respectability, when he clearly does not have respect for yourself, his own wife, or women in general.
- Silvia Murray, London UK
How is this a 'City Hall' sex scandal? What has it got to do with City Hall?
The reported incident took place long before Lewis was appointed. Lewis has now gone, and this lady has just now agreed to speak to the Standard. Why might that be do you suppose?
- Chuck Unsworth, London
Must have been a really big incident for her to not bother mentioning it to Lewis or the police for so many years.
- St, London
Shame on you Mr Lewis ...shame on you.
- Stevie Bonnell, london
A minimal look into Ray Lewis's past would have revealed a catalogue of issues that would have eventually come up. Boris has made a big mistake in appointing such an unsound man and I question his judgement for this.
Bad start Boris.
- Bob, London
Corruption, greed, self, decadence is everywhere in our political system. There must be something we the people can do about this because its getting worse and worse.
- Robert, Aberdeen
