A former council chief has today been jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of acting improperly and dishonestly over the purchase of property.

Sandy Ezekiel was said to have “hidden behind” his best friend to disguise the true nature of transactions when buying a house in Margate and an adjoining derelict shop after using his influence to ensure the owners were persuaded to sell.

The 59-year-old small businessman claimed he had only loaned the friend, Phillip Emanuel, 64, the money to buy the Thanet District Council owned house in the old town near the seafront.

Ezekiel, of Crow Hill, Broadstairs, denied four charges of misconduct in public office while Emanuel, formerly of Laleham Gardens, Margate, denied one charge of aiding and abetting.

However, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court unanimously convicted both men on all charges after just over 10 hours deliberation.

There were gasps from the public gallery as Ezekiel was jailed. Passing sentence Mr Justice Nicol said that his "long and distinguished" local government service would now be overshadowed by his conviction.

Remarking that people had a right to trust those who hold office, the High Court judge added: "These are grave offences. Those in public office sometimes gain great prestige but with that comes great responsibility.

"The public put their trust in councillors. It is essential.... in a democracy that the public can be confident that those who hold office and exercise those responsibilities on their behalf do so with integrity and honesty.

"If that trust is abused, as you have done, you have to understand that punishment will follow."

Both men were told their offending was so serious that only custodial sentences would suffice. However, Mr Justice Nicol said he was "persuaded" to suspend Emanuel's jail term.

"While you were not a public official you were fully aware of his (Ezekiel's) role and your dishonesty was an integral part of his dishonest scheme," he added.

Properties at the centre of the trial of former Thanet council leader Sandy Ezekiel (left 12B and right 12A King Street, Ramsgate)

The judge also concluded that Emanuel, who now lives in France, had become involved out of loyalty and friendship, and had gained no financial motive.

When the verdict to the first charge had been read out, Ezekiel looked over to friends and family sitting in the public gallery. Thereafter, neither Ezekiel nor Emanual showed any emotion or reaction.

During the trial the court heard “small but attractive” 12b King Street had been empty for about seven years. It was renovated but a dispute with contractors meant it had not been sold.

Next door was 12a, which had traded as This ‘n’ That. The owners, Alan Douglas and his wife, had bought it and obtained planning permission to develop it.

Alisdair Williamson, prosecuting, said the development had been delayed for some time at the request of the council, which was then renovating 12b.

It then transpired the couple would not be able to develop 12a in the way they wanted because of flood risk.

"these are grave offences. those in public office sometimes gain great prestige but with that comes great responsibility..." – high court judge mr justice nicol

In October 2008, the council put 12b on the market for £149,995 but Mr Douglas was not told. It was difficult to sell because it had no garden or parking.

The price was dropped in January 2009 to £135,000 and the only interest came from Margate resident Sandra Blackgrove, who made a number of offers from early 2009.

She was eventually led to believe that an offer of £117,500 would be acceptable, but she heard nothing.

“Frustrated, and with her heart set on this property, on September 22 2009 she emailed Sandy Ezekiel as leader of the council to ask for his help,” said the prosecutor.

Ezekiel contacted council officer Justin Thomson and asked to be copied in to any correspondence on the matter. Mr Thomson told Miss Blackgrove that at least £120,000 would be needed and she increased her offer to that figure.

Mr Williamson said it was no coincidence that Ezekiel’s best man at his wedding, Emanuel, became involved.

A man purporting to be Emanuel’s brother David viewed the property on September 27. But David Emanuel, who has since died, gave a statement to police that he had never viewed the property.

On September 28, Phillip Emanuel, who had never been in the property, made an offer of £121,500.

Sandy Ezekiel was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court

Mr Williamson said Ezekiel used the information from Miss Blackgrove and the council officer.

“As leader of the council, he could not be seen to be buying council property, so he needed a proxy,” he said. “He persuaded his friend Mr Emanuel to put in offers and pose as the buyer when he was the true purchaser.”

When Miss Blackgrove increased her offer to £123,000, Ezekiel was informed. On September 30, Emanuel increased his offer to £125,001. It was accepted on October 2 and the sale was completed in March 2010.

Ezekiel, who resigned as council leader in March 2010, said he had no personal knowledge of 12b up to 2008. He was not involved, he said, in the decision to market the house.

He said of Emanuel, whom he had known for about 35 years: “We have been good friends. We had a bond between one another. He has been very good when I haven’t been as well off as I am now.

“He had a room in my house when I was with my first wife and he has a room now I am with my second wife. He comes as a package.”

His lawyer Benjamin Summers suggested it was a case of “love me, love my wife”.

Ezekiel replied: “I am just lucky. We have had business together. We had a successful motorcycle shop. Without his knowledge and expertise I don’t think I would be where I am today....He is as close to me as a brother.”

Mr Summers told the court that Ezekiel had not gained any economic advantage from the purchase of the property and that it was simply "transferring one asset to another".

He also said that the father-of-three was suffering from various health problems, including arthritis in his knees, a back condition, and heart problems which were currently being investigated.

The court heard that just days before the start of the trial his mother had died in Israel. Mr Summers explained Ezekiel did not go to her funeral as he did not want to delay the trial.

John Traversi, defending Emanuel, said there was unlikely to a "public clamour" for him to be jailed immediately.

He added that any risk of re-offending was "as remote as could be" and that a suspended sentence would act as a salutary warning

"At his age he has lost his good name and that in itself, you may think, is substantial punishment for someone of his background for this one singular lapse in his life."

Ezekiel will return to court on June 7 for a confiscation hearing. The prosecution will decide within seven days whether such proceedings will also be held in respect of Emanuel.

DS Adrian Brown, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Ezekiel abused his position of power and trust in a public office to wrongly put pressure on the owners of 12a King Street to sell in an already stressful economic climate.

"This came after he had already deceived his own council, of which he was meant to be the leader, by getting his close long-standing friend Philip Emanuel to purchase 12b King Street on his behalf.

"I'm pleased they have both answered the justice system and this sends out a strong message to anyone thinking of misusing their power that they will be investigated and pursued to the full extent of the law."