Councillor convicted of racial abuse resigns

By chubbard

A PARISH councillor who was convicted of racial harassment has quit.

Nicolette Tossell's resignation was revealed at Combe Martin Parish Council's annual parish meeting on Monday.

The announcement followed weeks of heated debate following a trial at Barnstaple magistrates' court.

Mrs Tossell, 52, and her husband Raymond, 58, were both found guilty of racially abusing Anthea Slade, a mixed-race woman who lives in the village, last September. Both had denied the offence.

After the case was reported by the Journal several residents called for Cllr Tossell to resign — both in comments on this website and at a heated meeting parish council meeting last week.

Mrs Tossell has refused to comment on the case publicly or answer any questions on whether she would stand down.

But at Monday night's annual parish meeting the chairman, Cllr Julia Clark, read out a letter from Mrs Tossell in which she formally tendered her resignation.

In the letter Mrs Tossell said she had sought legal advice from the standards board which investigates the behaviour of people in public office.

She said: "They have made it quite clear to me that there is no need for me to resign.

"However my decision on this matter was made several weeks ago and I will stand down from my position with the council."

Mrs Tossell did not attend Monday's meeting. Councillors then refused to comment any further on anything to do with the controversy.

Mrs Tossell was found guilty after magistrates heard that she had sworn at villager Anthea Slade last September in a row over parking. The court was told she told Mrs Slade: "F— off back to where you've come from. There are too many foreigners in this country now. We don't need people like you in this village'."

Mrs Tossell was fined £150, ordered to pay £150 court costs, and £15 victim surcharge.

Her husband Raymond was found guilty of a similar offence, fined £90 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

In a poll on this website on whether Cllr Tossell should resign from the council, 412 people had cast votes by Tuesday, with 86% saying yes and 14% saying no.

Combe Martin Parish Council is now advertising for a vacancy on the council.

An election to fill the vacancy will be held if, by May 19 2009, notice in writing of a request for such an election is made by 10 electors of the parish.

If there is no election call the parish council will be able to co-opt a new councillor.