Parish council split over raffle

[Sheilbh]

Parish councillor suspended over Tombola row
Parish councillor Richard Michette has been suspended for threatening a man who criticised his wife's handling of a tombola draw.
By James Orr3:21PM BST 17 Apr 2012


(L-R) Cllr. Richard Michette with his wife Cllr Carole and Richard Roper  Photo: ALBANPIX

Michette, 66, took objection to a local villager who stood up to claim there had been a mix up with donated raffle prizes.
He reportedly shouted at Richard Roper, 67, to "shut your mouth". He then went on to warn him he would be "hearing from my solicitor" before adding "one more word from you and I will thump you now."

The unsightly spat occurred at a parish meeting in the picture-postcard village of Long Melford, wth its listed Tudor mansions and quiet country pubs, near Sudbury, Suffolk, in July last year.

Members of Long Melford Parish Council, first formed 118 years ago in 1894, gathered to discuss the upcoming annual street fair.

Cllr Michette's wife, Carole, had been tasked with helping organise the event for the fourth year running.

But when Mr Roper used his address to take exception to an error over raffle and tombola prizes, Mr Michette, who has sat on the local authority for 30 years and runs Long Melford opticians alongside his wife, flew into a rage.

His conduct was so shocking that another member of the public at the meeting, Christopher Buckley, later complained to Babergh District Council. The incident was then referred to Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Standards Committee and a hearing was held in February following an investigation.

Earlier this year the sub-committee concluded that Mr Michette had failed to treat Mr Roper with respect and had brought the office of councillor and the parish council into disrepute.

Its members found his conduct was "threatening, unreasonable and demeaning" to Mr Roper and was a clear, serious breach. He was suspended for six weeks from March 3.

Yesterday Mr Michette, who ended his suspension last week, admitted his behaviour had been wrong.

He said: "I lost my temper and - under severe provocation - called him a "little s**t". Following the meeting I wrote to him and apologised and he accepted my apology."

Mrs Michette defended her husband saying he was simply doing what anyone would have done had their partner been criticised in public.

She added: "It's been very stressful. We have been voted in by lots of people and I am a bit vocal and stand up for things - sometimes that goes against you."

Both Mr Buckley and Mr Roper were unavailable for comment.

[Martinus]

 

[garbon]

Ridic!

[Razgovory]

I'm either missing something, or this is a very, very slow news day.

[Iormlund]

Clearly a case for Sgt Nicholas Angel.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Inspector Barnaby from Midsummer will be needed soon :p

[Richard Hakluyt]

There are 6 pubs in Long Melford, it seems it is more of a decayed town (from the medieval cloth-making glory days) than a mere village. It has a magnificent parish church :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Melford

[Josquius]

Ah little England. One would be forgivin for not realising this world still exists.