A TEENAGER elected to become the youngest member of Frodsham Town Council has been heavily criticised for declaring ‘inappropriate’ and ‘appalling’ interests on his Facebook page.

Nineteen-year-old Frodsham First candidate Sam Harmer, who was elected as town councillor last week, has courted early controversy through a series of Facebook links which promote:

Hatred of the police;

Anarchy;

Sniffing petrol;

‘Killing religion’

Mr Harmer, who was elected unopposed, has pledged to “help improve the image of young people in Frodsham and build better relationships with the police”.

However former mayor and town councillor John Maddock, who spotted the Facebook page said he was outraged by Mr Harmer’s online interests.

“I was appalled, so much so that I wanted to withdraw from the election,” said Mr Maddock, who lost his seat at the town council elections on Friday.

Former Helsby High pupil Samuel Harmer, who prefers to be known as ‘Sas’, was elected to the council after Cllr Frank Pennington recommended he stand as candidate for the unopposed Frodsham North seat.

Cllr Andrew Dawson admitted Mr Harmer had been a ‘prat’ for publicising the groups but otherwise defended the teenager, saying he was ‘still just a young lad trying to make a difference’.

He explained: “I expect this is a product of immaturity, he is only 19.

“Everyone has to go through the difficult period of seeing the private become public.”

Responding to the accusations Mr Harmer, of High Street, Frodsham, apologised for the material and pointed out he is a member of 72 other groups, some of which are political and support the local community.

He said: “I've just discovered why many young people are put off taking up a public role. I can't believe how pathetic it is that someone would take time out of their life to try and make my life harder,”

“I am nothing more than a 19-year-old kid passionate about improving things for young people. I saw standing for the town council as a way of helping young people in the community and that is what I want to do.

“I am sorry if anyone has been offended by what I thought was private.

“I will make sure that before I take up my office that anything that may offend anyone is removed”.