An investigation by legal firm Bevan Brittan has cocluded that former Sheriff of Nottingham Zafran Khan misused his civic status for personal gain. the report alleges Mr. Khan secured significant financial advantages, including a massive discount on vehicle repairs and various complimentary event tickets.
The £22,500 Stratstone Land Rover discount
Zafran Khan allegedly used his official council email to contact Stratstone Land Rover, signing off his correspondence as "The Sheriff of Nottingham." According to the report, this maneuver helped reduce a £30,000 repair quote for his vehicle to just approximately £7,500. This represents a £22,500 saving obtained through the perceived weight of a ceremonial title.
The investigation found no legitimate reason for Mr. Khan to utilize his councillor email address for private automotive repairs. The report suggests the use of the title was a deliberate attempt to secure a financial advantage, noting that communicating a status of such importance would reasonably be expected to yield benefits.
From Paw Patrol to Tate McRae: Unreported hospitality
Complimentary event accss became another focal point of the Bevan Brittan investigation. The report states that Mr. Khan accepted free tickets to various performances at the Motorpoint Arena, including shows featuring Canadian singer Tate McRae and the stage version of the children's cartoon Paw Patrol. He also reportedly received tickets for the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team.
Beyond the Motorpoint Arena , the investigation flagged several other instances of undisclosed hospitality. Mr. Khan failed to declare his attendance at the opening of The Ivy restaurant in Nottingham, and the report also noted he received free tickets and the use of a hospitality box at Nottingham Racecourse. While Mr. Khan claimed the racecourse invited him to attract more BME visitors, the report found he was often using these facilities with friends rather than performing official civic duties.
The 4am induction training and personal grief defense
Mr. Khan has denied any intentional wrongdoing, attributing his actions to a combination of exhaustion and personal hardship.. He claimed that following his 2019 election,he attended councillor induction training at 9am after staying awake until 5am, leaving him too tired to fully grasp the Code of Conduct. He also noted that the death of his uncle in October 2025 was a period of significant personal distress.
Regarding the complimentary tickets, Mr. Khan argued that they held a "£0" value because they were free and incurred no cost to the Council. He also defended his failure to register the meal at The Ivy by claiming the total value of the prosecco,juice, and canapé was below the £25 mandatory declaration threshold. However,the investigation concluded that his use of the Sheriff title was unlikely to have been entirely inadvertent.
Will the legal team's challenge overturn the Bevan Brittan findings?
The legal validity of the investigation's conclusions remains a point of contention. Mr. Khan's legal team has already signaled they will contest the report, arguing that it contains both factual and legal errors. As of now, the findings have not been formally considered by the members of the Standards and Governance Committee.
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