A SENIOR councillor has denied telling a council worker he wanted to "punch her f***ing head in" following an official complaint.

David Harrington, who is the leader of Ingleby Barwick Independent Society and a councillor on Stockton Council, confirmed he had apologised to the complainant - but said: "I have never said anything like that."

The Northern Echo understands that a female member of staff at Stockton council made the allegation in an official complaint.

Once Mr Harrington apologised the matter was not taken any further.

One source said: "There was a complaint that he threatened a woman and threatened to punch her f***ing head in. There was hell on over it.

"Considering Stockton council has got policies against abusive behaviour, violence against women and so on, it was a surprise that more was not done."

However, the council was understood to be following official procedures.

When the matter was put to Mr Harrington, he told The Northern Echo: "They are words that I would not use against an officer of the council or indeed allow a member of the public to do the same in my presence.

"I have apologised to someone for a situation recently where my approach to an issue was inaccurate, which is certainly the right and proper thing to do.

"I can assure you that I have not and never would use words like that. It is not in my DNA to use threatening context like that against someone."

A Stockton council spokesman said: "Though we do not comment on individual cases, we have robust procedures in place to investigate complaints about the conduct of councillors or officers."

In December Mr Harrington said he "would not put up with any bullying or abuse" after claiming he had been the subject of "vile personal attacks" online.

He took his Twitter account private, suspended online ward surgeries and reported the matter to the police.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said they had investigated but it no criminal offence had been committed.

It is understood that the tweets Cllr Harrington complained about contained inaccurate information rather than abuse.

He has since made his Twitter account public again.

Three years ago he won Online Councillor of the Year in some local government awards.