BOURNEMOUTH’S former council leader has been accused of setting “a bad example” after he refused to take part in training ordered by the standards committee.

Cllr Peter Charon was ordered to undertake training on the council’s prevention of bullying and harassment policy after he was found to have “bullied and publicly humiliated” his Tory colleague Cllr Mark Anderson at a meeting.

But in an email to the council he said this was “wholly out of the question” and attacked the “so-called standards regime”.

His email stated: “In the past I have come to the aid and defence of those who have been treated miserably by the so-called Standards Regime.

“I have done so because I am a fervent believer in natural justice, not rough and ready justice.

“For the record I deny virtually all of the allegations that were contained in Cllr Anderson’s original complaint.

“They were taken at face value by you and your committee members and punishment handed down without any possibility of my being able to challenge them which would have been perfectly straightforward.”

Roy Wardle, chair of the standards committee, said: “To the best of my knowledge it’s an unprecedented situation in which a member refuses to comply with the decision of the standards committee on an allegation of misconduct. It’s a serious situation and it’s a very bad example for any councillor to set to others.” The move has fuelled speculation that Cllr Charon is on the verge of resigning from the council. He was forced to resign as leader of the council and the Tory group in January following a move of no confidence but still remains as a backbench councillor serving Redhill and Northbourne.

However he has not attended a council meeting since January and few people would be surprised if he stood down from the council and sparked a by-election.

Two other investigations into Cllr Charon’s behaviour are still ongoing.

One concerns allegations that he abused his position by coercing colleagues to become involved in non-council business and the other centres on allegations that he acted in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner.