Maltby councillor denies joking: ‘I’m the local rapist’

Cllr Bill Spilsbury denied using the term — stating he had said “molester” and it had obviously been a joke.

But an RMBC standards sub-committee accepted that he had used the term “rapist”. 

It ruled that he had breached the code of conduct and brought Maltby Town Council into disrepute.

Cllr Spilsbury was stripped from committees and outside bodies, banned from the Edward Dunn 

Memorial Hall other than for council meetings, and ordered to attend extra training.

Cllr Spilsbury told the panel he often told ribald jokes — saying he was encouraged to do so by fellow town councillors.

He also pointed out that there were no members of the public present and the complainant had not appeared distressed at the time.

An RMBC spokesman said: “The sub-committee found on balance that that the subject member had breached the code of conduct, in that he had failed to treat others with respect.”

Cllr Spilsbury said the whole thing had been a set up and he was considering taking legal advice on clearing his name in relation to the “rapist” remark.

He said: “I did make a comment, a joke, as I’ve done before on numerous occasions. But I strongly refute that allegation.”