A COUNCILLOR has dismissed allegations of bullying, abuse and intimidation as “political banter” at a standards hearing.

Independent Middlesbrough councillor Terry Lawton said feeling intimidated and bullied was a “character flaw” after an investigation found he was responsible for a long-running campaign of online abuse against local politicians.

He has been banned from using council internet systems after admitting targeting deputy mayor Charlie Rooney, other councillors and a council officer in a series of offensive, potentially defamatory social media posts.

Making a series of allegations relating to asset sales, Cllr Lawton had accused council members of cronyism, nepotism and bringing the council into disrepute.

He referred to one council officer as a “purse-carrying cretin” and accused another of trading promotions for sexual favours.

The investigation also linked him to ‘missing’ posters distributed around Middlesbrough that depicted Councillor Rooney and mayor Dave Budd, some of which were posted outside the school of Cllr Rooney’s granddaughters.

During a standards hearing at Middlesbrough town hall, Cllr Lawton claimed he was making a stand in order to represent residents and was trying to save the town, rather than bring it into disrepute.

Cllr Lawton said: “I would expect my dialogue with elected persons to be considered normal political banter.

“I think someone who is elected to represent constituents cannot be bullied or intimidated.

“How can they represent the ward residents’ best interests if they are frightened to speak out?

“It is about strength of character, all politicians must remember they are there to do their best for the people and if there are questions that need answering, they should answer them.”

The panel unanimously agreed with findings from an independent investigation that suggested Cllr Lawton’s behaviour went against the councillors’ code of conduct.

They imposed a series of sanctions and ordered Cllr Lawton to apologise publicly to anybody named in the damning report and undergo retraining in council procedures, the use of social media and the code of conduct.

Until he apologises, he will be barred from using his council email address or accessing its IT system, with any correspondence dealt with by another party in his absence.

Chair Jeanette Walker said: “We considered carefully comments from Terry Lawton and it is clear that the code of conduct was not at the forefront of his mind when making statements via social media or other arenas.”

In a separate hearing, Councillor Jon Rathmell faced several allegations of bullying and abusive behaviour but was found to have breached the council’s code of conduct on only one occasion when he described the Mayor’s assistant and council employee, Luke Henman, of being a "bag lady".

He was ordered to write a letter of apology and attend a social media training session.

Following the hearings, Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd issued a renewed call for councillors – regardless of political affiliation – to treat others with respect.

He said: “This independent investigation has shone a clear light on the utterly unacceptable behaviour that officers and members have been subjected to for many months.

“This wholly negative and destructive campaign of vilification has continued and even worsened beyond the timeframe considered by this inquiry.”