A Brentwood councillor has been banned from driving and fined after he admitted to drink-driving.
Andrew Wiles, 60, also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance after appearing at Basildon Magistrates Court on February 23.
Since his arrest on January 27, he has had his membership of the Conservative Party temporarily suspended.
READ MORE: Attempted murder arrest after college student stabbed
Councillor Wiles, who represents the Brentwood South ward for Brentwood Borough Council and the Brentwood South division for Essex County Council, has also been suspended temporarily within the Conservative groups on both those councils while the outcome of any action is decided.
Essex Police said Councillor Wiles, of Oaktree Close, Brentwood, was arrested and subsequently charged following a single vehicle collision on January 27 in Crown Street, Brentwood.
He appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court on February 23 where he was fined £507 and disqualified from driving for 22 months.
According to court documents he registered 86mg in 100 millitres of breath when breathalysed. The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Councillor Wiles has been a member of Essex County Council since May 6, 2021.
He has also been a member of Brentwood Borough Council since the same date when his 665 votes beat the Labour Party candidate by 10 votes. He is scheduled for re-election in 2024.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here