Council leader cautioned over 'assault' on girl

The leader of a city council was arrested and cautioned following allegations that he assaulted a teenage girl, police said today.

Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of common assault.

The teenager was reported to be the Labour councillor's 16-year-old stepdaughter.

Police said the injuries to the girl were "very minor".

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "At 11pm on Monday April 12, police were called to a house on Westbury Road, Crumpsall, following allegations a 16-year-old girl had been assaulted.

"Police attended and spoke to the girl, who had sustained a very minor injury.

"A 58-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of common assault and was cautioned in relation to the matter."

The Labour group which runs the council was unavailable last night but released a statement to the BBC which read: "Cllr Leese was detained last night following an incident at home.

"He was released today with a caution, and there is no further legal action pending.

"This was a private matter which the family now consider closed."

A spokesman for Manchester City Council said it too considered the incident a "private matter".