The Ombudsman for Wales, has welcomed the decision of the Adjudication Panel for Wales this week to disqualify former Pembroke Dock County Councillor Paul Dowson from holding office as a councillor for three years.

The Ombudsman’s report considered by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (‘APW’) concerned three complaints about the former county councillor for the Pembroke Dock Central Ward investigated recently by the office.

In a hearing on Monday (August 22) the APW found that Mr Dowson had breached Pembrokeshire County Council’s Code of Conduct and had brought his office as a councillor and PCC into disrepute by:

• Falsely stating publicly on two occasions that another councillor behaved criminally by sharing a pornographic video. The APW also found that this conduct amounted to bullying behaviour.

• Falsely stating on social media that a member of the public was an ex-offender who had been imprisoned for violent crime. The APW also found that this conduct amounted to harassment of the member of the public.

• Posting misleading information about the Welsh Government’s Relationships and Sexuality Education (‘RSE’) curriculum on social media.

• Suggesting on social media that a member of the public was ‘on the register’, implying the sex offender’s register.

• Deliberately attempting to mislead the Ombudsman by providing a fabricated social media post during the investigation

The APW decided that Mr Dowson should be disqualified for three years from being or becoming a member of Pembrokeshire County Council or of any other relevant authority.

The former Councillor has the right to seek the leave of the High Court to appeal that decision.

Michelle Morris, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, said: “We welcome the outcome of the hearing. These were all extremely serious complaints.

“The false allegations and statements made by former Councillor Dowson were potentially harmful and reputationally damaging to the individuals concerned and to the Council.

“The decision to disqualify the Member from holding office for three years reflects the seriousness of his conduct.

“Our investigation and the APW’s decision demonstrate that the ethical standards regime in local government in Wales is effective in ensuring that those who breach the standards expected of them are held to account in order to maintain trust and confidence in local democracy.

“This is the second outcome of a hearing into the conduct of former Councillor Dowson in as many months, as in June the Pembrokeshire County Council decided to censure that Member for his comments on social media about the Black Lives Matter movement.

“We believe that it is important to draw public attention to the outcomes of these hearings, so that lessons are learnt and the local constituents are fully aware that their elected representatives will be held to account if they breach the Code of Conduct,” she added.