A Green Party politician has withdrawn from the deputy leadership race after it emerged her father was her election agent despite being charged with child rape.

Aimee Challenor’s father David was jailed for 22 years last week for torturing and raping a ten-year-old girl.

The 20-year-old was tipped for great success in the party, but pulled out of the race on Sunday.

Aimee Challenor has withdrawn from the Green Party deputy leadership contest (Picture: Aimee Challenor)

Aimee, who is transgender, was the party’s equality spokesman and a former parliamentary candidate.


In a statement, she said: ‘My father was sentenced to 22 years in prison for a series of serious sexual offences including rape and gross indecency. I am horrified, I am saddened, I am disgusted and I am devastated by these events.



‘I am still coming to terms with what has happened and have taken some time away from social media before commenting publicly.

‘His crimes are abhorrent. Of that there is no uncertainty. In light of the revelations about my father’s despicable behaviour, and because of the impact my role has on my family and the survivors of my father’s criminal behaviour I have decided to step aside in the Green Party deputy leadership race.

‘I do not want the deputy leadership election to be dominated by what my father has done. I do not want my relationship with him to damage the Green Party, and I want to ensure the focus stays firmly on the good work that the party is doing.

‘I did not know about the full details of the crimes my father has been found guilty of until very recently. It is also very difficult to believe that a parent can be guilty of such abhorrent acts.’

David Challenor was jailed for 22 years at Warwick Crown Court (Picture: BPM)

David Challenor kept his 10-year-old victim in an attic (Picture: SWNS)

As well as rape, Challenor, 50, was found guilty of of false imprisonment, gross indecency, assault by penetration, assault causing actual bodily harm, making indecent images or children by downloading them and possessing prohibited images.

The former Green Party member used to dress in a nappy and an adult-sized baby costume when he raped his victim.

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Aimee and her father lived together in a house in Coventry and he was her election agent even after his trial date had been sent.

In a statement, the Green Party said: ‘We are shocked and horrified by these offences and condemn them in the strongest possible terms.

‘The offences have been dealt with through the criminal justice system and Aimee has requested privacy, which we respect, and we are offering her our support at this challenging time.

Aimee Challenor was tipped for great things in the Green Party (Picture: Getty)

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley and Aimee Challenor in April (Picture: Getty)

David Challenor was jailed for 22 years (Picture: SWNS)

‘The Green Party was not aware of any of these allegations until the case concluded and Mr Challenor had been sentenced.’

The statement continued: ‘Mr Challenor has not held any elected positions in the Green Party although Aimee appointed him as her election agent for the General Election in 2017 and local election in May 2018.

‘There is no place for this abhorrent criminal behaviour in the Green Party. Mr Challenor is no longer a member, having had his membership removed with immediate effect.



‘There is no connection between these offences and Mr Challenor’s previous membership of the Green Party.

‘The Green Party stands against all sexual and gender-based violence. We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously and as standard practice we will review them with immediate effect. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected as a result of these offences.’

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