Jason Zadrozny, the leader of Ashfield District Council, has been found guilty of multiple counts of fraud and tax evasion following a high-profile trial at Northampton Crown Court.
The 46-year-old councillor from Stanton Hill, who served as a prominent member of the Ashfield Independents on Nottinghamshire County Council, was convicted of nine counts of fraud and four counts of tax evasion. The guilty verdicts were delivered after a jury deliberated for nearly 11 hours, bringing a dramatic conclusion to proceedings that have cast a long shadow over local governance in the region.
The court heard that Zadrozny had orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to defraud Nottinghamshire County Council by establishing a fictitious organisation. In 2018, he founded the “Ashfield Heritage Society” (AHS) and subsequently applied for public funding under the guise of supporting local historical projects. Prosecutors revealed that just three days after opening a bank account for the group, Zadrozny requested £7,500 in grant money. The council, believing the funds were intended for legitimate community heritage work, transferred the money directly to him. Zadrozny then deposited the funds into the society’s account before withdrawing the entire amount in cash in March of that year.
Beyond the fraudulent heritage claims, jurors were presented with evidence detailing significant financial irregularities regarding Zadrozny’s private business dealings. Prosecutors alleged that he had systematically failed to pay tax on income generated from four rental properties he owned, marking a deliberate attempt to evade his fiscal responsibilities.
Following the conclusion of the trial, the judge thanked the jury for their “care and attention” throughout the case. While Zadrozny was granted unconditional bail, he was issued a stern warning regarding the severity of his actions. The judge told the councillor that he is now “at risk of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Zadrozny is expected to return to court for his sentencing hearing on 27 November.
The conviction marks a significant political scandal for the Ashfield district. As leader of the council, Zadrozny had been a central figure in local politics, and his legal troubles have sparked intense scrutiny regarding his future in public office and the integrity of local grant-allocation processes.
The council has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the immediate impact of the verdict on Zadrozny’s leadership position, but legal experts suggest that given the nature of the fraud convictions—which involved the misuse of public funds—he will face immense pressure to resign. For now, the community of Ashfield awaits the final outcome of the sentencing hearing, which will determine whether the man who once held the highest political office in the district will face a significant term behind bars.
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