大象传媒

Thomas Hogg: Ex-DUP mayor loses MBE after sex offence conviction

  • Published
Thomas HoggImage source, PAcemaker
Image caption,

Thomas Hogg has been stripped of his MBE

A former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) mayor has been stripped of his MBE following a conviction for a sexual offence.

Thomas Hogg, now 34, was found guilty in 2021 of an offence against a teenage boy in 2019.

He had been made an MBE in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

He served as mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council in 2014-15, but

Hogg had also resigned from the DUP at the time charges were brought against him.

The Cabinet Office can advise the King to revoke honours for a range of reasons.

Suspended sentence

On Tuesday it

He received the award in 2016 for services to local government.

Hogg was given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of attempting to engage a child in sexual behaviour.

He had offered to perform a sexual act on a 15-year-old boy and asked the boy to perform a similar act.

Hogg had claimed he was tipsy but the judge said alcohol was no excuse for what had happened.

The judge said Hogg's proposal came as a shock to the boy, who vehemently rejected it and reported the matter to the police.

The court heard the incident had a serious effect on the victim.