Full Breakdown
Former Ashfield Council Leader Convicted; New Leader Appointed
By Drooid · · How we work
Conviction of Former Council Leader
Northampton Crown Court found former Ashfield council leader Jason Zadrozny guilty of nine counts of fraud and four counts of income-tax evasion on September 21. The 46-year-old had led the authority for the Ashfield Independents since 2018 after an earlier tenure with the Liberal Democrats. Following the verdict, Zadrozny resigned as council leader and group head but retained his seat as a councillor for the Larwood ward.
Immediate Council Response and Leadership Change
On September 28, Zadrozny attended a cabinet meeting for a few minutes before missing the subsequent full council meeting where the new leader was chosen. Councillor Samantha Deakin, previously deputy leader and strategic housing and climate-change lead, was the sole nominee and was elected leader after one councillor voted against her nomination. Deakin declined media interviews after the meeting but indicated that council services would continue uninterrupted, emphasizing the need to maintain housing, safety, parks, business support, and town-centre investment.
Details of the Fraud Scheme
The prosecution described the Ashfield Heritage Society as a “front” used by Zadrozny to divert public funds. Between 2018 and 2021 the society received £9,100 from a Nottinghamshire County Council fund for good causes, and the Classic Cinema Club obtained £1,200 in the same period. Prosecutors said the society was set up because Zadrozny required cash “in a hurry,” a claim he denied during the trial. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Zadrozny left the Ashfield Independents earlier in 2026 after accusing fellow party representative Tom Hollis of bringing the council into disrepute.
Upcoming Sentencing
Zadrozny is scheduled to be sentenced on November 27. The court has warned that he faces an “immediate custodial sentence” pending the outcome.