A FORMER mayor lost his temper and swore at his town hall colleagues when he had to wait 45 minutes to see the town clerk, a disciplinary panel was told.

Seaford Town councillor Anthony White then pursued former town clerk Sam Shippen out of the local authority’s offices whilst verbally abusing her on December 9, 2013.

He also abused fellow councillor Ian White before continuing his tirade in front of shocked customers in a shop owned by another councillor, Linda Woolraven.

On Friday, coun Anthony White was expected before Lewes District Council’s audit and standards sub-committee in connection with the incidents.

But he did not turn up – instead telling The Argus the investigation into his behaviour was a waste of public money.

Since the incident, Seaford Town Council has sacked former clerk Sam Shippen for gross misconduct over a VAT blunder.

The council was also at the centre of an investigation after allegations of infighting, bullying and incompetence. It came after Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, had called the local authority “out of control”.

Coun White issued a written apology for his behaviour – but told The Argus he would “do the same thing again” if it meant the council’s problems were brought to light.

He added: “If you look at why I was upset and angry, and what I’ve exposed about the former town clerk, then you can understand.

“I can hold my head up high and say I did the right thing. It brought it to the attention of the local MP [Norman Baker] who requested the investigation. And as a result, look what’s happened.”

The standards panel found Coun White had breached Seaford Town Council’s code of conduct and his behaviour brought his Mayoral office and the reputation of the authority into disrepute.

The panel recommended Coun White attended training sessions. He has also been removed from all committees and sub committees – notably the appeals, golf and community services committees.

In December The Argus revealed the town council had spent £72,000 on the investigation into former clerk Sam Shippen.

The local authority turned to the services of professional consultants for the investigation.