INCENSED residents declared a victory for democracy after a council banned criminals from serving on its finance committee.

More than 100 protesters laid siege to a Ripon City Council meeting, demanding the removal of Councillor Andrew Williams from the key committee, weeks after being voted in as its chairman.

The appointment came less than a year after he was convicted of pocketing £220 of the authority's ice cream takings at a gala event celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012, while serving as mayor.

The council's Sergeant at Mace was repeatedly forced to intervene as the chamber was festooned with placards and copies of Private Eye articles about the Independent councillor as residents interrupted the meeting with a series of tirades about the 45-year-old.

As residents launched into slow-hand clapping and refused to be silenced, some councillors complained of a bear-pit atmosphere while others walked out.

In the ensuing free-for-all, the Mayor of Ripon, fellow Independent councillor Pauline McHardy was told by a resident she was "not important" as she attempted to restore order by threatening to adjourn the meeting and call the police.

She added she feared for the health of the council's officers after a flood of complaints about Cllr Williams' appointment, while Councillor Sarah Jones drew gasps as she said the residents' behaviour showed her why Ripon did "not deserve to be a better place".

Residents said the decision had made the city a national laughing stock, while Conservative councillor Mike Chambers said the authority's reputation was "lower than a rat running through a sewer".

Resident Gaynor Allen said: "If you are a paedophile you can't run a school - how can a convicted fraudster run a finance committee?"

Members of the ruling Independent group said Cllr Williams previous experience in the role made him the best candidate.

Cllr Williams, who maintains he is not guilty of the fraud, sat impassively through most of the meeting, but said the electorate in his ward had displayed their support for him.

He said: "In spite of front page publicity, 1,491 people put a cross against my name, more than any other member of the council bar one."

After several attempts by Cllr McHardy to defer a motion by Councillor Mick Stanley to have criminals with unspent convictions banned from the finance committee, the remaining members were cheered as they voted in favour of the move.

Due to complex council rules, it remains unclear when Cllr Williams will be replaced in the role.