The inspirational black community leader Ray Lewis, who resigned from his high profile role as deputy mayor of London yesterday because of questions about his past, is a former junior prisoner governor at Woodhill prison and still lives in Milton Keynes.

Mr Lewis, also a former priest in London's East End of London, became the high-profile executive director of Eastside Young Leaders' Academy which he predicted would educate Britain's first black prime minister, in 2001.

The 80 boys who attended the academy underwent military-style drills and physical activity with academic work and appeared committed to the disciplined regime, staying for sessions after school and at the weekends.

Senior Conservatives were impressed by his tough love approach and his appointment as deputy mayor by Boris Johnson was seen as the new mayor's most symbolic staff move.

His role - on a salary of £125,000 a year - was to take responsibility for young people in the capital, but it has been reported that he got the job without undergoing a proper vetting process.

Newspaper reports then cast doubt on some of his stated achievements, including his status as a priest and a magistrate,

Mr Lewis, 45, is married to Pamela, with three daughters, and gave the pressure on his family over the sleaze allegations as one of the reasons for his decision to quit.

Mr Johnson said he accepted the resignation with regret and promised to reappoint his controversial aide, who he described as an inspiration, once the clouds over his CV have been dispelled.