Charges dropped over 'plonker' insult

Charges dropped over 'plonker' insult

Charges of harassment and public disorder against two Ilfracombe councillors have been dropped.

The Crown Prosecution Service considered that it was not in the public interest to continue legal proceedings against Brian Cotton and Tony Cooper.

The men had been arrested and interviewed by police in Barnstaple in January.

They were then charged with harassing fellow councillors and referring to them as "plonkers".

Some charges were then dropped and public order allegations made.

But on Tuesday prosecutors discontinued all the charges against Mr Cotton, 64, the former deputy mayor of Ilfracombe and Tony Cooper, 42, the former chairman of the finance committee.

Both men had denied all the charges against them when they appeared before Exeter magistrates last month.