A councillor has vowed to support his son '100 per cent' after he was convicted for his role in running a £1million vice ring, which included a Kenton brothel.

David Howard, 41, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court last month of conspiring to control prostitution for gain at a flat in Kenton Road between December 2006 and April last year.

The court heard that Howard was involved in a family-run brothel business with his mother, Adele Lubin, 62, and uncle Spencer Rolfe, 61, who were also found guilty of operating the vice ring stretching across north London.

But David's loyal father, Ray Howard, believes he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and said he would continue to support his son, who is due to be sentenced today (Thursday).

Mr Howard, who is county and borough councillor for Canvey West in Essex, said: "For more than 40 years I have given a lot of my time to public service and to have to go through this is very depressing.

"David was going through a diffi-cult time and went to stay at his mother's. I believe he wasn't aware of what was going on and that he was in he wrong place at the wrong time."

Mr Howard explained that David, who has two children, had suffered a nervous breakdown and was living with his mother after his marriage broke up.

However, he was arrested when an undercover operation, codenamed Acebo, discovered 17 women working as prostitutes in three massage parlours across north London, with two women offering services at the Kenton Road address.

During the investigation officers were offered sex and a female officer was even offered a job as a prostitute.

But Mr Howard said: "David is not guilty. His barrister said he couldn't even run a bath let alone run a brothel because of the state he was in. This wasn't a clear cut case because it took the jury three days to decide upon a verdict. David is innocent."

Mr Howard said he and Adele Lubin had divorced more than 30 years ago and that David had been staying with him at his home in Canvey.

He said: "This has been an awful time but I have still carried out all my duties and I will be sticking by my son 100 per cent. I am a lawabiding citizen and I believe if someone is guilty they should pay for what they have done but David has been unfairly convicted."

Mr Howard, of Canvey Road, Canvey Island, Ms Lubin, of Watford Way, Hendon, and Mr Rolfe, of Green Avenue, Mill Hill, are expected to be sentenced today (Thursday).