A COUNCILLOR accused of trying to steal £7,000 is to stand trial in October.

David Gawn, of Lankers Drive, South Harrow, denied one charge of the attempted theft of the sum from a Dennis O’Brien on or before August 5 last year when he appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Friday.

The 35-year-old ward councillor for Harrow on the Hill was told there would be a pre-trial review on September 21 and the trial proper would begin on October 1. Gawn was granted unconditional bail until then.

The national Labour Party has suspended Gawn from Harrow Council’s Labour Group until the matter is resolved.

Gawn, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a director of Community Arts Media, was first elected to the authority in May 2006 for Marlborough ward before switching wards for his second term.

He is a governor at Stanburn School in Abercorn Road, Stanmore, and chairman and a director of Harrow Community Radio based in Wealdstone.