The former top boss of a South London council has pleaded guilty to drink driving, failing to stop after a car crash and driving without insurance. Bayo Dosunmu, who was chief executive of Lambeth Council until his arrest earlier this year, admitted to the offences at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (August 1).
But Dosunmu, 46, of Hammersmith, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine at the same hearing. Dosunmu, wearing a dark suit and tie, spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He asked for the cocaine charge to be heard at crown court and will appear at Isleworth Crown Court in West London on August 29 in relation to the Class A drug possession charge. Dosunmu stepped down from his ÂŁ190,000 per year role at the council in July after being charged with the offences the previous month.
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The court heard Dosunmu was driving a white Jeep on June 23 when he was involved with an crash with a blue Toyota, while it was waiting at traffic lights at the junction of Wandsworth Bridge Road and Townmead Road. He failed to stop after crash.
The court heard the driver of the Toyota tailed Dosunmu and eventually had to pull in front of the Jeep to get him to stop. Police were called and Dosunmu appeared to be slurring his words, the court heard.
Paul Goldspring, senior district judge, imposed an interim driving ban on Dosunmu and released him on unconditional bail. He will be sentenced for the offences he pleaded guilty to at a later date.
Dosunmu was appointed chief executive of the council in April 2022, taking over from Andrew Travers. Since his departure in July, Fiona Connolly, Lambeth’s corporate director of housing and adult social care, has been acting chief executive. The council intends to begin recruiting for a new permanent chief executive soon.
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