Disgraced Aberdeen councillor has ban extended by Standards Commisioner

Disgraced Aberdeen councillor Alan Donnelly has had his interim suspension extended by the Standards Commission.

The former deputy lord provost, who was found guilty of carrying out a sexual assault at a civic function in 2018, is now barred until September while a report into his misconduct is finalised.

The representative for Torry and Ferryhill denied touching his victim's hair, face and body and kissing him on the face during his trial in Aberdeen in December.

However, he was found guilty and later sentenced to an eight-month supervision order, placed on the sex offenders register and ordered to pay £800 in compensation to his victim.

Donnelly stepped down from the Conservatives in the aftermath of his conviction and was stripped of his positions on council committees but has, so far, refused to resign from the Town House.

This means only the Standards Commission has the power to remove him from office.

Donnelly was handed a three-month ban by the watchdog in March.

This was due to expire tomorrow but will run until September 3 to allow time for a final report to be drawn up. 

The Standards Commission concluded the decision to prolong his interim extension is both "proportionate and in public interest". 

Donnelly said he would not be providing a comment.