A SENIOR Labour councillor has called for a former Tory to resign for bringing the office of councillor “into disrepute”.

Cllr Janet Black says Cllr Max Drury is not fit to be a councillor after he was found guilty of harassing a former business partner and previously sending what she calls “inappropriate, rude and offensive” e-mails.

But so far Cllr Drury, who represents Curzon and Westminster on Chester City Council and has been elected to serve on the new Cheshire West and Chester Council, has resigned from the Conservative Party but is refusing to step down as a councillor.

What worries Cllr Black is that Chester magistrates heard Cllr Drury considered himself above the law because of his position as councillor.

Cllr Black, the Labour group whip on the city council, said: “His behaviour is erratic and uncouncillor like. I consider he has brought the office of councillor into disrepute. He should go and go now.

“He’s just reinforcing the public perception that if there is one bad apple in the barrel then all the apples in the barrel are bad.”

Earlier this year Cllr Drury had his access to Chester City Council’s computer network temporarily withdrawn after being accused of sending inappropriate e-mails.

He apologised to Labour Cllr Gwyneth Cooper after one e-mail but later upset Cllr Black with another, copied to Labour councillors, which asked Crewe & Nantwich Conservatives to invite their new MP Edward Timpson to a Tory fundraising event – before he had actually been elected.

Cllr Black complained to the ethics & standards assessment sub-committee as she considered the e-mail “inappropriate”. Cllr Drury was reprimanded not for that reason but for using council IT equipment to fundraise for a political party. The same subcommittee said Cllr Drury had “failed to treat others with respect” in relation to an e-mail to a member of the public..

Cllr Drury was asked to apologise and to undertake IT training.

Cllr Drury told The Chronicle on Monday he would continue “to serve the people” as an independent and admitted in relation to the court case: “I took my eye off the ball.” Since then he has not been available for comment.

Cllr Drury, 61, of Clifford Drive, Chester, must answer bail tomorrow (Saturday) in relation to public order allegations following a complaint by his next door neighbour which led to his arrest in July.