‘Glowering’ Bates back in hot water

COUNCILLOR Warren Bates: censure

UKIP councillor Warren Bates has been found guilty of bullying a veteran soldier for the second time.

Councillor Bates was called before a standards panel at Oldham Civic Centre after a complaint he had intimidated Jack Crompton, chairman of Failsworth Historical Society. He was found to have “glowered” and “glared” at Mr Crompton when he deliberately passed him in the street.

But UKIP said the allegations were “false and malicious” and branded the hearing a waste of money.

The incident happened when Mr Crompton, 85, was walking home in Failsworth.

Simon Goacher, the investigating officer, said Councillor Bates was on the opposite side of the road when he doubled back, crossed over and passed Mr Crompton.

He said Councillor Bates’s explanation that he was inspecting pigeon mess was “somewhat implausible”.

“I do not believe Councillor Bates,” said Mr Goacher, who described Mr Crompton as a more credible witness. “Councillor Bates could easily have waited for Mr Crompton to pass.”

Mr Crompton told the panel he had felt unsafe and anxious, adding: “This is not the sort of behaviour I expect from a councillor. I do not have it from others. It’s a bit like the situation of the boy in the schoolyard being harassed.”

Councillor Bates was found to have breached the councillors’ code of conduct. The panel recommended council censure

The council previously censured Councillor Bates in April, after the panel found he had intimidated Mr Crompton during a meeting. It is believed it is the first time that a councillor has been censured twice.

Former councillor Joe Fitzpatrick represented Councillor Bates at both hearings and claimed the allegations were malicious.

“This is unbelievable. Simply just being on the street now is a crime for Councillor Bates,” he said.