West Oxfordshire councillor quits after council tax conviction

Image source, WODC

Image caption, Colin Dingwall represented Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield

A councillor has resigned after he was prosecuted by his own authority for unlawfully claiming council tax reductions.

Colin Dingwall, 73, represented Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield on West Oxfordshire District Council.

The Conservative councillor, from Crawley, near Witney, was found guilty of three counts of behaving contrary to regulations for council tax reductions.

His party said he quit following a hearing at Oxford Magistrates' Court.

He was ordered to pay a fine of 拢1,119, 拢1,000 court costs and a 拢448 victim surcharge on 19 April.

Dingwall had been due to stand down at the local elections on 2 May.

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