Commenting generally and not about this specific case as it is live.
There do seem to be a lot of cases involving elected males, not just councillors but MPs as well. Weren't there two mayors in the dock within a fortnight of each other a couple of years back?
Whilst it's entirely possible "some degree of power" "inflates the sense of importance and entitlement", I don't think it's the job that makes them predators; rather it's the fact that they're predators that attracts them to the job. A job that gives them the aura of respectability and access to vulnerable people. Access is the biggest draw, the respectability aspect means their victims feel they won't be believed, their word against his. So they can predate again and again, uninterrupted. Pillars of the community just like priests and scoutmasters and all the rest ... .