Formal complaints have been submitted to Middlesbrough Council after a politician was accused of misogynistic behaviour.

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke and Cllr Mieka Smiles have all submitted complaints to Middlesbrough Council after Independent Cllr Jon Rathmell was accused of using a number of sexist terms to refer to Conservative Cllr Smiles.

In Facebook posts and via an email, which the Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen, Cllr Jon Rathmell used terms including ‘fish wife', ‘political whore’ and ‘fluffer’ when referring to his fellow Nunthorpe councillor.

Last week, Cllr Rathmell publicly revealed he has been living with autism for a number of years.

Mr Clarke and Cllr Smiles took to open social media profiles to criticise Cllr Rathmell, and he hit back with an email message to Cllr Smiles sent in the early hours of the morning, saying: “Do you describe yourself as a former journalist because you were too stupid to read articles, yeah I saw your tweets tonight.

“I instantly thought; that’s a woman who has that much eye make-up on they’ve stuck together. Anyway, I’m pleased you hi-jacked an important issue just to play fluffer to Simon.”

Cllr Smiles, Middlesbrough’s deputy mayor, described the comments as “hurtful and upsetting” and said that “there can never be any excuse for abusive behaviour”.

Writing on her open Facebook page, she said: “This is sadly not the first time I have personally been targeted with misogynistic behaviour from Cllr Rathmell, who often makes comments about my personal appearance.”

Labour has branded Cllr Rathmell’s conduct as unacceptable and said there is no place in politics for this type of behaviour.

Mr Preston said: “Bullying and intimidation is not acceptable and we all have a duty to stand up to bullies and defend our colleagues. That’s why I’ve made an official complaint about Cllr Rathmell’s disgraceful behaviour.”

In a statement, Cllr Rathmell admitted his message to Cllr Smiles had been “strong, cutting and direct” but said he was reacting to “disgraceful” comments about his autism.

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In 2018, Cllr Rathmell was found guilty of five breaches of the councillors’ code of conduct, and four of the member/officer protocol at a meeting held behind closed doors.

Three years later he was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office.

He forged emails and a receipt purporting to be from a local wholesaler to cover up his mismanagement of a fireworks display.