THE Mayor of Barnet has been found in breach of the council code of conduct following an email exchange with a blogger.

The standards sub-committee today upheld a complaint against conservative Councillor Brian Coleman made by Mill Hill Musician Roger Tichborne who he branded an "obsessive, poisonous individual”.

Independent investigator Melanie Carter had previously concluded in a report that Mr Coleman had failed to comply with Paragraph 3 of the code: failing to treat others with respect.

Representations were made to the hearing by Mr Coleman's solicitor Stephen Hocking, of Beachcroft Ltd, but he was unable to persuade officials that the London assembly member for Barnet and Camden had acted in a proper way.

Chair of the committee, independent member Stephen Ross, said the breach was not serious enough to warrant a sanction being imposed on Mr Coleman, but he is liable to reimburse the council for the £10,000 legal cost paid out to employ Beachcroft Ltd.

Mr Coleman had left the meeting before the conclusion and was not present to hear the decision.