Rose Theatre chief executive Robert O’Dowd has denied disgraced former council leader Derek Osbourne enquired about working with the theatre upon his release from prison.

But it has been revealed the ex-Liberal Democrat did write a letter from jail to the theatre’s chairman, in which he said he missed the Rose.

Several sources have contacted the Surrey Comet in recent weeks claiming that Osbourne wrote to theatre bosses expressing an interest in working with the High Street venue once he had served his sentence.

Originally, Mr O’Dowd claimed that, to his knowledge, neither himself or any member of staff had been contacted by Osbourne.

He added: "Derek’s only engagement with the Rose in the past was as a councillor.

"He is no longer a councillor so he would have no reason to engage with the Rose any more than a member of the public would."

Surrey Comet:

Derek Osbourne was jailed for two years in October 2013

But when the claims emerged again this week, Mr O’Dowd admitted Osbourne had penned a letter to theatre chairman Anthony Simonds-Gooding in February, in response to a letter Mr Simonds-Gooding wrote to Osbourne in June 2013 following his arrest.

Mr O’Dowd said the letter was sent to Mr Simonds-Gooding’s home address and did not express any wish to work with the Rose upon his release, although the convicted paedophile admits to missing the theatre.

Asked why he did not mention the letter sent to Mr Simonds-Gooding before, Mr O’Dowd said: “I feel very strongly that this letter was not to the Rose nor anything to do with the Rose.

“It was and is a personal matter and letter.”

Surrey Comet:

Rose chief executive Robert O'Dowd has categorically denied the disgraced council leader enquired about working with the theatre upon his release

He added even if Osbourne had contacted him requesting to work with the theatre, he would not have passed his disclosure and barring service checks (formerly CRB).

Mr Simonds-Gooding is yet to respond to the Comet’s attempts to contact him at the time of going to press.

Osbourne, 60, was sentenced to two years in prison for downloading and distributing thousands of images of children, animals and women being violently and sexually abused.

He had been an active supporter of the Rose and its youth theatre, and had led the council’s attempts to restore its shattered child safeguarding reputation following 2012’s damning Ofsted report.

New council leader Kevin Davis announced in May he would launch an inquiry into Osbourne’s tenure, which is likely to investigate his involvement with the Rose.