Reform UK councillor George Madgwick has been charged with 35 criminal offences, including 12 counts of rape, following a police investigation into allegations involving four complainants in the United Kingdom.

Madgwick, 37, represents North East Havant on Hampshire County Council and also serves as a councillor in Portsmouth. He was charged on November 3, 2026, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The allegations involve four complainants who were aged between 16 and 17 at the time of the alleged offences. Police say the incidents are alleged to have occurred between 2008 and 2021 in Portsmouth and Wales.

Details of the 35 charges

According to the CPS and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, the charges against Madgwick include:

• 12 counts of rape.
• Eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
• Two counts of assault by penetration.
• Two counts of sexual assault.
• Two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour.
• Two counts of making indecent images of a child.
• One count of distributing an indecent image of a child.
• One count of stalking.
• One count of making threats to kill.
• One count of false imprisonment.
• One count of criminal damage.
• One count of theft.
• One count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

The charges followed an investigation launched by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on July 24, 2025, after police received a report of a sexual offence.

Officers arrested a man at an address in Wandsworth, London, on January 6, 2026. Madgwick was subsequently charged by the force’s Operation Amberstone team.

Reform UK suspends councillor

Reform UK confirmed that Madgwick had been suspended from the party with immediate effect following the announcement of the charges.

Madgwick has denied the allegations, describing the charges as shocking. He also said he had decided to resign as Reform UK’s group leader on Hampshire County Council while the legal proceedings continued.

He is expected to continue serving as an independent councillor during the court process.

Hampshire County Council confirmed that it was aware of the charges but declined to comment further because criminal proceedings were underway.

The council also explained that being charged with a criminal offence does not automatically disqualify an elected councillor from holding office under the applicable rules.

Court appearance scheduled for November 25

Madgwick has been granted bail and is expected to appear before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had reviewed the evidence and concluded that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute and that bringing the case to court was in the public interest.

However, the charges remain allegations, and Madgwick is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. His guilt or innocence will be determined through the judicial process.

The case is expected to attract further attention as court proceedings begin.

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