THE leader of Stockton Borough Council has called for a colleague to resign after he was found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute.

Coun Steve Walmsley was investigated by the Standards Board for England after he was accused of swearing at a woman during a meeting of Thornaby Town Council last year,

The woman's formal complaint also included claims that Coun Walmsley repeated her home address to her in an intimidating manner and passed a note to a colleague with a drawing of a coffin on it with the words "wind her up" written on it.

In its findings, the Standards Board said Coun Walmsley launched a "personalised attack", which it said "regardless of strength of feeling, cannot be justified".

He dismissed the allegations by the woman, a member of the Labour Party, as absolute nonsense.

He claimed the complaint was part of a long-term campaign by Labour councillors to try to discredit the Thornaby Independents' Association, of which he is the leader.

He said: "We're being hounded, so this is par for the course for us now. I've had numerous complaints made against me, but the only people who were asked to give evidence here were Labour members."

Coun Bob Gibson, Labour leader of Stockton Council, denied any such campaign.

He said: "The man has been found guilty, simple as that, and I have a great deal of sympathy for the woman."

"I think he really has to consider his behaviour and whether it is fit for him to be in elected office."

Coun Walmsley denied insulting the woman but said he had mentioned her address to her because she did not live in Thornaby and felt she had no reason to attend the meeting.

A spokesman for the Standards Board said no further action was being taken.