Golders Green rabbi charged with sex offences

Golders Green rabbi Chaim Halpern has been charged with two counts of sexual assault on a woman on June 1 2022.

Rabbi Halpern, 65, of Bridge Lane, NW11, was charged after a police investigation was begun following claims made in an Israeli TV programme in November 2022.

In the programme, a woman, appearing anonymously, alleged she had been the victim of non-recent sexual offences said to have taken place in London. In March 2023, a man in his 60s was arrested in connection with the matter, and a file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in December 2023.

The man has now been charged and has been bailed to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 19 2024.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said that investigating officers continued to support the alleged victim, adding that “all allegations of sexual offences are taken extremely seriously by the Met and we would always encourage victims to come forward in confidence so we can support them and investigate further”.