A FORMER Worcester councillor has been jailed for four months for trying to pervert the course of justice.

Nazrul Islam, a former Labour politician, phoned up the police impersonating an alleged assault victim in a bid to get charges dropped.

The 37-year-old, who is also widely known across Worcester as a restaurateur and for his work with the community, was rumbled after making the phone call just as the victim was giving a statement at the city’s police station. Islam, a former partner at Abdul’s Indian restaurant in the Tything, phoned police pretending to be Monir Ali, who was allegedly attacked on September 28 last year in Middle Street, Arboretum.

He pleaded guilty to intending to pervert the course of public justice at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, July 8 and was jailed on Monday, July 15.

Figures within Worcester Labour Party yesterday distanced themselves from his actions.

He was known to be very active with the branch last year - including coming face-to-face with party leader Ed Miliband when he visited for a litter picking session in the summer.

Councillor Joy Squires, the city’s Labour parliamentary candidate, said: “I’ve not seen or heard from him for quite a long time.”

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader of Worcester’s Tory group, who has known Islam for several years, said: “He’s a key player in the Bangladesh community in the Arboretum area.

“I know he’s worked hard for a number of good causes and I’m sad to hear he’s been involved in this as he has done a lot of good in the city over the years, but this is obviously a serious offence.”

Islam, of Chestnut Walk, Arboretum, was first elected to Worcester City Council in 1998 to the old All Saints ward, becoming its youngest ever Asian councillor aged 22.

He narrowly avoided jail 11 years ago for trying to get a friend from Bangladesh into the country illegally after using his position to copy a forged housing officer’s letter to back up the visitor’s visa.

In May 2002 he lost his council seat at the elections, and was given a nine month prison sentence for the immigration offence, suspended for two years, in November that year.

Islam is a former director of Worcestershire Racial Equality Partnership and governor at Stanley Road Primary School.

He also used to work for the Worcester City Ethnic Minority Project, which aimed to help ethnic minorities get better work and employment opportunities.

* Muhibur Rahman was charged with assault by beating following the Middle Street incident, and has pleaded not guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court.

He is next due before magistrates on Friday, August 16.