Disgraced councillor admits guilt (From Gazette Series)

Disgraced councillor admits guilt

A PROMINENT councillor who also serves on Gloucestershire Police Authority has been fined £500 by a London court after being caught filming attractive women without their knowledge.

Bob Eccles, 60, has served the community as a politician for over a decade. But what was defended in court as "a moment of madness" is likely to have put his political career in jeopardy.

He is the county council's cabinet member for the environment, as well as being both a Stroud district and Cainscross councillor.

Bow Street magistrates on Friday convicted Eccles, a keen photographer and video-maker from Ebley, of disorderly conduct after he had admitted filming unsuspecting women's groins and legs in Trafalgar Square on September 9.

He had zoomed in on the women and filmed their lower halves. Police noticed his strange behaviour and observed him on several occasions. They considered his behaviour unacceptable and arrested him after viewing the film footage.

When questioned Eccles admitted filming the women and in court pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

District judge Nicholas Evans his genuine remorse and took into account his previous good character and work he had done for the community.

Eccles, married with grown-up children, was ordered to pay £55 costs and had his camcorder confiscated.

The county council said that, acting on medical advice, Eccles was not carrying out his council duties, a spokesman adding: "His cabinet responsibilities have been taken up by his colleagues. Following the outcome of Friday's court hearing the Labour Party will discuss with Mr Eccles the most appropriate way forward."

He had been suspended by the party immediately the allegations came to light. Now Labour will be reviewing matters but the suspension remains suspended while this process takes place.

Eccles remains a member of Gloucestershire Police Authority at this time.

Its members receive a basic annual allowance of £7,000, along with expenses and additional payments for attending meetings and tribunals on the authority's behalf.

For his county council duties Eccles receives £24,540 a year, while the district council pays a basic allowance of £3,957 to backbench councillors.

The district council's constitution says members must not conduct themselves in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office or the authority into disrepute. It makes no specific mention of criminal convictions.