Former Labour councillor and Hope Not Hate activist admits child sex offences against 13-year-old girl
Liron Velleman, 30, admitted one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.
By FREYA BARNES, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 17:10 GMT, 8 January 2026 | Updated: 17:13 GMT, 8 January 2026
A former Labour councillor who suddenly stepped down from his role with no explanation in April last year has pleaded guilty to sex offences against a 13-year-old girl.
Liron Velleman, 30, admitted one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.
Between December 3 and 10, 2024, Velleman, who was elected as a Labour councillor for Barnet's Whetstone ward in 2022, sent the 13 year-old girl naked pictures of himself and asked whether she was 'at home alone'.
The former Hope Not Hate activist and member of the Jewish Labour Movement also demanded the child show him her bra and asked if she was a virgin.
The British-Israeli father-of-one was eventually caught trying to contact the victim by a Metropolitan Police operation.
During a hearing on January 2, Velleman's defence barrister, Ali Hussein, told Highbury Magistrates' Court his client had been diagnosed with depression, for which he had been prescribed medication.
He added: 'He is a person of good character. He is currently unemployed. He is a family man.
'There is a great deal about his background which will assist the court to see how exactly he came to find himself in this position.'
Liron Velleman (pictured), 30, admitted one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
Velleman's sentencing was adjourned to February 10 at Highbury Magistrates' Court.
He was released on conditional bail prohibiting him from being in the company of someone under the age of 18.
In a statement released today, advocacy group Hope Not Hate, where Velleman worked as a junior employee until early 2023, said: 'HOPE not hate fully condemn these heinous crimes and believe that he should rightfully be punished under the full force of the law.'
It added: 'HOPE not hate has had no contact with Velleman since before his arrest.'
According to a now deleted biographical profile on Holocaust education program Echoes and Reflection's website, Velleman's grandfather was a Holocaust survivor from Poland.
It goes on to say Velleman 'grew up in a Jewish and Zionist household, attended Jewish primary and secondary schools, and was an active member of New North London Synagogue'.
He studied at the University of Leeds where he gained a degree in politics in 2016.