antiques Police criticised by councillor (From Free Press Series)

antiques Police criticised by councillor

MONMOUTHSHIRE councillor Graham Powell is demanding answers from Gwent police following the collapse of his theft and forgery trial last week.

The veteran councillor was cleared of two counts of theft against his aunt and niece and 11 counts of forgery at Cardiff crown court.

And following the decision, the 78-year-old Caldicot councillor said he had "serious misgivings" about the six month police investigation and would be seeking answers from Gwent's chief constable.

He spoke out after Judge Roderick Denyer discharged the forgery counts, describing them as a "nonsense", and ordered that a charge of stealing from his Councillor Powell's late aunt Margaret Halloway, who died last month aged 91, be stayed.

Following the judge's ruling, the prosecution offered no evidence in the remaining charge of theft from his niece, Sheila Spragg.

Councillor Powell said: "After 55 years as an elected representative and 41 as a councillor I have developed a thick skin, although I am obviously relieved to have been cleared in a court. I know my wife will be very relieved indeed."

And he criticised the police for bringing the case before the courts, saying: "I have always had the greatest respect for the police and the work they do and was a vice chairman of the police authority.

"I have always given them every assistance but I have serious misgivings about this case and will be writing to the chief constable."

Councillor Powell is currently suspended from his post following remarks made to a Monmouthshire social worker who he allegedly threatened to throw out of window.

But he revealed that he is now seeking a judicial review into the decision.

"I have written to Monmouthshire council asking them to either clear me or it will go to a judicial review," said Councillor Powell.

And despite speculation that he will be standing down from his post in this June's elections, Councillor Powell has revealed that he is now thinking about running as an independent candidate.