A MOMENT of madness has left a lawyer's life in tatters after he was convicted of gross indecency with another man.

The court heard that Kelvin Jones had lost his wife, his home, his career and his reputation after he was caught in bushes next to a lay-by.

Jones resigned as clerk to the justices of South Durham - in charge of magistrates courts in Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe - after he was arrested last month.

Yesterday, he was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay £120 costs by Northallerton magistrates after he admitted the offence of gross indecency.

Paula Jack, prosecuting, told the court that two police officers had pulled into the lay-by, on the A689 Rushyford to Sedgefield road, at about 5.40pm on August 4.

She said the officers looked into bushes and saw two men involved in a sex act. Jones, 43, and Paul Foster, 33, of Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted their part in the offence.

Graham Hunsley, for Jones, a former mayor of Newtown in Wales, said the incident had a devastating effect on his client's life and career.

Mr Hunsley said: "He knows what a fool he has been to allow this misjudgement of a matter of moments to decide the rest of the course of his life.

"What he has already lost by way of the shame and ignominy of having to admit his conduct is the largest part of any punishment he faces."

He said Jones had immediately resigned and left the Darlington home he shared with his wife and two children.

Clare Pattinson, for Foster, who was given an identical punishment, said he had left his job and been forced to leave his parents' home after he was arrested.