A TORY city councillor was found guilty of harassing an ex-business partner and his wife by making threats through email, telephone calls and calling at their home.

Max Edwin Aaron Drury, 61, of Clifford Drive, Chester, managing director of Chester Mobility Centre, fell out with co-owner James Meadows.

This was after Mr Meadows, of Longfield Avenue, Upton, resigned as company secretary and financial controller on February 18 on grounds of ill health.

Drury, currently city councillor for Curzon & Westminster, posted an email through the Meadows’ letter box, copied to many recipients including police and city council leader Margaret Parker which said Meadows was incompetent through drink, was suicidal and had “robbed” his company.

Prosecutor Amanda Roberts told Chester magistrates yesterday (Thursday) that Drury made 10 phone calls to the Meadows’ household the same day.

An harassment order was served on Mr Drury by police officers but he refused to read or to sign it. PC Mark Hughes said: “He said that as a councillor he should be treated differently to everybody else and that he was above suspicion.”

Ceri Evans, defending, argued Drury - who was elected to the new shadow Cheshire West and Chester Council in May - had acted reasonably in the particular circumstances.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders said he understood Drury’s feelings to a degree but concluded he had been unreasonable in his actions.

Drury was fined £350, with costs of £600, ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and made subject to a two year restraining order which means he cannot contact the Meadows.

The full version of this court case appears in Friday’s edition of The Chronicle.