A COUNCILLOR found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute for calling a member of the public a f***ing prostitute says he has been the victim of a political hate campaign.

Coun Steve Walmsley, of Stockton Borough Council, was reprimanded by the Standards Board for England after a woman accused him of harassing her during a meeting of Thornaby Town Council last year.

Coun Walmsley was also alleged to have mentioned the woman's home address to her in an intimidating manner, and passed a note to a colleague with the message "wind her up" written on it.

Coun Walmsley, who denied the allegations, has written to the Standards Board, accusing the Labour Party in the town of a campaign against him.

He said the allegations, which he called a "sick, orchestrated fantasy", followed complaints against him and other members of the Thornaby Independents Association (TIA), of which he is leader.

In the letter, he said: "Since our formation... we have had to endure the most vicious and prolonged campaign of political vindictiveness, personal attacks and lies ever mounted in this area, and I speak from experience."

Bob Gibson, the leader of Stockton Borough Council, said Mr Walmsley's allegations of a vendetta were "in his head".

A Standards Board spokeswoman said it was inappropriate for them to comment.