A TYLDESLEY councillor has had his mobile phone removed after he used it to call premium rate sex chat lines and to send 'sexist and 'sickening' text messages.

An investigation was launched by Wigan Council after Clr Robert Bleakley was found to have racked up a phone bill of £2,418.95.

It found that he had been using his council-issued mobile phone to call premium rate sex chat line numbers and to send inappropriate text messages containing sexually explicit, sexist and discriminatory material.

The Wigan Independent councillor did not attend the hearing on Friday but the cross-party panel, which comprised chair of the Standards Committee Clr Charles Rigby, Clr Jim Ellis and Clr Mike Crosby, decided there was sufficient information to proceed without him.

The panel heard evidence, including some of the text messages said to have been sent by Clr Bleakley.

One such message, sent on March 2 2013, read: “Aren’t they f*****g idiots. No wonder women are just cooking and washing material."

In another message, sent February 11 2013, in a conversation regarding the Vicky Pryce and Chris Huhne court case, he said: “Lol. Oh well we’ll find out this week what happens. I hope she likes porridge and her f***y played with in the showers."

Donna Hall, chief executive of Wigan Council, said: “I am appalled and sickened with the language used in these messages.

"It is quite clear, judging by the content of Clr Bleakley’s text messages, that he has a problem with women.

"I will not tolerate this prejudice, nor will I allow him to come into contact with female officers until he has undertaken equal opportunities training."

After reviewing the evidence the panel agreed that Clr Bleakley had broken the council’s ICT policy and breached paragraph 5 and 6 (b) (i) of the members’ Code of Conduct when he used his mobile phone inappropriately.

As a result, Clr Bleakley was given a number of sanctions, including the removal of his IT equipment, including his mobile phone, and removal of his internet access.

He must now undergo equal opportunities training, and female officers will be instructed not to speak to him.

In response to the hearing, Clr Bleakley said:"When it was brought to my attention I apologised to the chief executive and also arranged to pay the money back straightaway.

“I realised this was an oversight on my part, for which I am truly sorry, and when requested to do so I have complied to the letter with Wigan Council policy and paid in full for all of my private phone calls."

He then goes on to say: "This is nothing more than a vendetta and smear campaign against me and a continuation of the politically motivated bullying and harassment of effective opposition councillors by some Wigan Council officers.

"The Labour controlled Wigan Council Standards Committee Panel has no authority or power to force me to submit to training."

Calls have been made for Clr Bleakley to be sacked, including on facebook - Jane Emmison said 'He's been suspended three times already...He should be sacked' while Carol Kennerly added 'What a slimeball, sack him!'

However, because councillors are elected officials they cannot be sacked - they can resign or the public can vote them out.