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NewsThree town councillors tell of 'horrendous' ordeal as former chair apologises for untrue allegationsThe three councillors have received a retraction and apology from the former chair,

who accepted his conduct led to them being subjected to abusegazetteliveBookmarkShareNewsByGareth LightfootLocal Democracy Reporter12:36, 5 JUN 2025BookmarkYarm Town Council members (l-r)

Councillors Pam Smailes, Barbara Wegg and Bob Wegg (Image: LDRS/applicable for all partners)Get the latest Teesside Live breaking news on WhatsApp

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A former town council chairman has apologised to three councillors and retracted statements made against them almost two years after a meeting where he called for them to resign.

Councillor Peter Monck has made a statement of retraction and unreserved apology to Cllrs Pamela Smailes, Bob Wegg and his wife Barbara Wegg to settle their legal claims against him alleging

defamation and harassment. He has accepted his allegations caused them serious harm and agreed to pay their legal costs.

The three councillors said they felt they had to clear their names after accusations were made against them which led to them being verbally abused. They said they avoided the town centre

for weeks because of the furore back in 2023, at a time when disputes surfaced in the council despite calls for everyone to "work together".

Then chairman Cllr Monck invited all three councillors to resign in a Yarm Town Council meeting in August 2023, saying they should consider their positions in 48 hours. The council passed a

vote of no-confidence in the three, but they did not resign.

Now it has emerged the three councillors since took legal action against Cllr Monck. The case has now been settled.

No longer chair, Cllr Monck has made a statement saying he made untrue statements at that extraordinary general meeting in August 2023 and made accusations against the three councillors

referring to police, a "non-existent" lawyer, possible prosecution and even prison. He said he later repeated a number of the allegations in emails to councillors and social media posts.

He said in the signed statement: "I hereby retract all of the allegations made by me about the claimants as referred to above. The allegations set out or referred to in my statements were

not true.

"I acknowledge that my allegations against the claimants at the extraordinary general meeting on August 10, 2023, and in emails and social media posts I created following the extraordinary

general meeting, as detailed above, have caused serious harm to the claimants and each of them. I acknowledge that, as a result of my conduct and untrue statements about the claimants, they

have been subjected to abuse by members of the public.

"I apologise unreservedly to Pamela Smailes, Robert Wegg and Barbara Wegg for my defamatory statements about them, and for the harassment and distress they have suffered in consequence of

the untrue statements I made about them. In addition to issuing this retraction and apology, I have agreed to pay the claimants' legal costs."

Cllr Smailes likened the experience in the 2023 meeting to a "kangaroo court", saying: "It was just horrendous. After that I got abuse off other people, from residents of Yarm. I avoided

going into Yarm High Street because it was just easier.

"We were waiting for the police to come to our door. There was no action because there was no crime committed.

Bob Wegg (Image: LDRS/applicable for all partners)

"We didn't resign, and we decided we would go and see a solicitor. We had 60 pieces of evidence."

She said she was relieved it was over: "It has taken over 18 months and he's retracted all of those untruths. This has been costly for us. It was never about the money.

"It's been a strain on the three of us, but we were determined to clear our names. Actions have consequences."

Cllr Barbara Wegg said she was frightened by the atmosphere at the well-attended meeting in 2023: "It was just awful. I really wanted to run out of that room.

shouting at me in the street'

"I kept thinking, hold your head up high, you've done nothing. If we had resigned, we would have looked guilty. It's appalling.

"I couldn't go into Yarm and I live within walking distance of the High Street. I stayed away for three weeks.

"When I did go to Yarm someone started shouting at me in the street. I went into a shop and stood in a corner, just to hide really. People were pointing at us.

"My husband had to pick up the phone with his daughter saying 'are you and mam going to jail?' That was very upsetting.

"It should never have happened. Everyone that knew us knew it wasn't true.

"We were prepared to go all the way, we weren't giving in, but since then he's made a retraction and he's got to pay our costs and compensation, which is a substantial amount

of money. But it was never for the money.

"I'm still feeling unhappy about it. I'm glad he's admitted all he's done.

"Every time I speak about it I get upset. It's affected the family, it's affected my children."

Cllr Bob Wegg said: "I would like to thank the people who have apologised since the meeting. We really appreciate that."

Cllr Monck said he had no comment to make, but confirmed he had made the statement and said he was considering his position on the council and taking advice from councillors. Asked what

lessons he had learned from the experience, he said he would "act in a more balanced way, to investigate the facts more rigidly and seek advice, legal advice, before I make any decisions on

anything".

Current town council chair Cllr John Coulson said: "Due to the legal ramifications, I think at this point in time it would be highly inappropriate for me as chairman of Yarm Town Council to

make any comment."

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