Four cellphone videos obtained by CTV News show London City Coun. Peter Cuddy lashing out at a man serving him with legal papers outside his home.
Recorded in November, the first video shows Cuddy snatching the papers out of the man’s hand and launching into an aggressive tirade that lasted in total at least a minute-and-a-half.
CTV News has identified Zak Rahim, managing director of Oxford Consulting / OCV Strategy as the person presenting Cuddy with the court papers and the target of his rage.
Rahim took the videos.
“This is for you,” Rahim tells Cuddy as he approaches.
After snatching the papers, Cuddy’s face fills the video screen as he gets close and says, “You f---ing will, you stop this s--t! F—k you!”
The video ends after Cuddy appears to use the papers to cover the cell phone.
According to Cuddy’s Councillor Expense Report, between January 2024 and September 2024, OCV Strategy was paid a total of $5,411.60 for political and digital consulting services.
Expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 have yet to be posted on the City of London website.
The second video begins with Cuddy walking towards Rahim who is standing in the street.
“Back up. Don’t assault me again. Back up!” Rahim shouts.
Cuddy repeats the question, “What’s your problem?” at least seven times while closing the distance to the cell phone camera.
Rahim tells Cuddy, “You, you owe me money. That is my plaintiff’s claim, Peter. Don’t touch me Peter. Back up.”
Documents filed in small claims court state, “OCV Strategy was engaged with providing campaign and political consulting services to Mr. Peter Cuddy since approximately December 2021. This continued until Mr. Cuddy’s failure to pay.”
The total amount of the invoices and interest is $4,210.77.
The court file also includes a demand letter that OCV Strategy sent to Cuddy last fall stating he owed $32,895.90 for the invoices, plus monthly fees between November 2024 and October 2026 (the end of the council term), and for the possession of intellectual property.
The third video begins with Cuddy’s arm around Rahim’s shoulders mimicking a friendly embrace, “Hey Zak, buddy.”
Rahim pulls away as his voice grows louder and more desperate, “Get off of me! GET OFF OF ME! GET OFF OF ME!”
Cuddy closes in again while Rahim walks backwards.
“Why don’t you take a swing at me Zak?” Cuddy taunts.
“I’m not going to touch you. I’m backing up. Get off of me!” Rahim replies.
Cuddy utters something unintelligible then walks back towards his house.
The final video shows Cuddy entering his home as Rahim speaks to the camera, “After he assaults me, he walks back into his house. This is Councillor Peter Cuddy. City Councillor owes us money, does not pay, assaults us.”
Cuddy tells CTV News in an emailed response that he and Rahim have settled their differences since November.
However, he has yet to respond to whether he believes his actions were a violation of the Council Code of Conduct.
The Code states that councillors, “have a duty to treat members of the public, one another, individuals contracted by the Corporation on a purchase of service agreement, students on placement and officers and employees of the Corporation appropriately and without abuse, bullying or intimidation.”
Cuddy was elected to represent Ward 3 in October 2022 after serving as a Trustee on the Thames Valley District School Board.
Rahim has repeatedly refused to discuss the incident when contacted by CTV News about the videos that have been circulating since early December.
On Monday, Rahim responded by text, “You do not have my consent to publish my footage. Thanks.”
In early January, CTV News visited an office building on Wellington Street where Oxford Consulting/OCV Strategy have a black residential-style mailbox, but could not locate an office space associated with the political consulting firm.
A review of court records shows no indication that Peter Cuddy is facing any criminal charges related to the incident.
