Lewis's progress from St Paul's to City Hall

Evening Standard5 April 2012
1990

1993 - became vicar of St Matthew's, West Ham, which had a growing multicultural congregation. He was a founder member of the East London Communities Organisation which worked on social issues.

1995 - set up a project for teenagers with drug problems and an out-of-school club. It is alleged Lewis improperly borrowed £41,000 from three parishioners. Mary Massey, 72, St Matthew's churchwarden, claims to have given him £25,000 in exchange for a handwritten IOU; a parishioner with learning difficulties lends him £8,000; and a Nigerian student lends a further £8,000.

1997 - he leaves London to serve at St Andrews church in Grenada, still owing the money after one cheque for £8,000 bounces

1998 - Mrs Massey complains to police about the money she is owed a year later. Police interview Lewis on his return from the West Indies, but the investigation is later dropped

1999 - Following complaints to the Church of England, he is put on the Lambeth List by the Church of England until 2005, barring him from taking any ministry.

2000 - Detectives arrest Lewis for fraud but no further action is taken. Lewis is employed as a prison governor at Woodhill young offenders institution. 2002 - Lewis sets up the Eastside Young Leaders' Academy, Newham, to develop the potential of disadvantaged black boys.

2003 - Lewis is accused of the first of five allegations of common assault which span five years until 2008. There is also an allegation of child cruelty made against him, according to Met Police sources. It is thought in total six children are involved. Mr Lewis is not arrested after the alleged victims are unable to substantiate the claims.

2005 - Lewis finally repays all the £25,000 owed to Mrs Massey in April of that year

2008 - New London mayor Boris Johnson names Lewis his deputy mayor for young people and opportunities - his first high-profile appointment

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