Lib-Dem Councillor for Stockport, Neil Derbyshire sexually assaulted a 16-year old boy in a public toilet. He was caught with a plastic bag containing lubricant, plastic surgical gloves, a condom, and underpants. The former Stockport Council environment leader and national general secretary of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors gave up his council seat after weeks of pressure.

Derbyshire pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to one count of assault and one count of trying to buy sex from a 16-year-old boy in woods near Half Moon Lane in Offerton in March.

He was ordered by Judge Stuart Fish to get help and told that he had 'brought shame on his family', including wife Sue Derbyshire and two teenage children. It is understood that the Derbyshire family will remain in Stockport and Mrs Derbyshire, a Full-Time Law Lecturer, has kept her seat on the Council.

The shamed councillor was caught by police with red underwear, plastic gloves and a condom as he went to meet the teenage boy after they had agreed to see each other the day before. The child had spoken with Derbyshire in the woods. He then agreed to meet the councillor for £25 but instead told his mother of the ordeal.

As soon as the party became aware of the arrest and impending trial the LibDems suspended Derbyshire and when the Manor Ward councillor was convicted they pressurised him to resign.

Mr Hunter said: "Under electoral law the council could do nothing to force him out of office, except refer the matter to the Standards Board for England. The board has the power to disqualify a councillor."

Derbyshire, 50 at the time, from Manor Road in Marple escaped a prison sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court but was handed a three-year rehabilitation order and placed on the Sexual Offences Register.

The disgraced Councillor refused to give up his Stockport council seat despite being ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register after he admitted Indecent Assault and attempting to Procure an act of Gross Indecency.