AN investigation into a councillor who swore at a competition winner during an Olympics event has concluded he did use abusive language.


The probe was launched after a formal complaint by Walthamstow photographer Katherine Green, who alleged that Chingford Cllr Laurance Wedderburn was rude and aggressive towards her when she tried to engage him in conversation back in July.


The investigation report, carried out by a council legal officer, said there was no dispute that Cllr Wedderburn had said "f*** off, get your bag and f*** off" to Ms Green as she went to pick up her bag while trying to move away from him.
 

The report, based on interviews with witnesses, has been published ahead of a 'determination hearing' next Monday (October 22) in which a panel of councillors will decide whether or not Cllr Wedderburn should be punished.


The incident happened at an event in the grounds of Waltham Forest Town Hall celebrating the arrival of the Olympic Torch and the panel has to decide whether Cllr Wedderburn was acting in his capacity as a councillor at the time.


Cllr Wedderburn, who has apologised to Ms Green, said he attended the event after securing a ticket in a public ballot and insists he was not there as an elected councillor.


He told the Guardian after the incident that he had been drinking alcohol earlier in the day and was stressed about his job.


During the investigation the Conservative member admitted swearing and said he may have been slurring his speech.


He said Ms Green had ignored his “polite” signals that he did not want to talk and said he felt like she was provoking him, although he acknowledged that was no excuse to swear.


Ms Green attended the event after winning a competition hosted by Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, who introduced her to Cllr Wedderburn.
 

Ms Creasy did not respond to the Guardian's requests for a comment at the time, but she told  investigators she did not hear the altercation.


The council report also noted that a neighbour of Cllr Wedderburn made copies of the Guardian's article about the incident and posted them through every letterbox in his street.


The council panel can either clear Cllr Wedderburn of breaching the council's code of conduct, request that a motion censuring him be put to the full council for a vote, and/or recommend that his own party does not nominate him to sit on any committees.