A WOODLEY town councillor has been given a 12-month suspended jail sentence after admitting a charge of GBH.
Jean-Jacques Ellis, 31, was elected as councillor for South Lake North ward last May.
Today’s Daily Mirror reported that Derby Crown Court sentenced Ellis yesterday.
The court heard that Ellis had been at The West Mill in Darley Abbey on August 26 last year to celebrate a wedding.
At the reception, Ellis punched a fellow guest, Luke Drinkwater, and then threw a glass at him. The incident was caught on CCTV. Drinkwater needed stitches following the assault. He also suffered a broken tooth.
The Mirror’s report said that prosecutor Luc Chignall told the court: “The result was serious injury”.
Ellis must undertake 200 hours of community service and pay £1,500 in addition to his 12-month suspended sentence.
Ellis sat on four committees at Woodley Town Council: Leisure Services Committee, PR/Marketing Working Group, Woodford Park Leisure Centre Regeneration Task & Finish Group and the Bulmershe SULV Joint Working Party as a Substitute.
However, under the Local Government Act 1972, Ellis has to stand down as a councillor as a result of his conviction. His seat will remain vacant until the May local elections.
Cllr Keith Baker, the leader of Woodley Town Council, told The Wokingham Paper: “The Conservative Party holds all its councillors to the highest standard of behaviour and any breaches are dealt with quickly.
“I can confirm that this individual is no longer a member of the Conservative Party.
“I can also confirm that yesterday the Woodley Town Council accepted his resignation as a Town Councillor.”
