A COUNCIL standards watchdog has received a complaint against a councillor following his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Brian Duffin was earlier this month given a four-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at her home in 2016, but was freed on bail pending an application to appeal.
The 73-year-old, an independent on Antrim and Newtownabbey council, has resisted calls to resign.
The Local Government Commissioner for Standards had said it has "no power to act" without a complaint.
There has also been confusion over whether Duffin faces automatic disqualification because of his jail term.
Yesterday a watchdog spokesman confirmed they had "received a complaint that a councillor from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has breached the councillor's code of conduct".
"The complaint is now being assessed," he added.
Duffin "stuck his tongue" into the mouth of the 17-year-old, had one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh, a court heard.
His victim told police, "I just froze, I panicked", and that afterwards neither spoke – but Duffin put £40 from his wallet on the table and walked out.
Duffin, of Cargin Road in Toomebridge, left the SDLP earlier this year when the sexual assault case emerged.
He denied the charge and was found guilty at Antrim Magistrates' Court.
The judge acknowledged his previous good character and references, but said the "custody threshold has been crossed".
The SDLP has previously called for Duffin to resign. If he resigned, the SDLP would decide who takes his seat because he was elected as an SDLP representative.
