Sex-case councillor vows to stay

Defiant Kapiti Coast district councillor David Scott is refusing to stand down despite being found guilty of indecent assault against a female council staff member.

The 71-year-old said he had had more than 100 messages from ratepayers wanting him to stay on.

A Wellington District Court jury took three and a half hours to reach the guilty verdict yesterday.

The Crown had said Scott pressed himself against a Kapiti Coast District Council employee at a morning tea after a council meeting in April 2017.

The woman rejected suggestions that what she felt pressing into her could have been a wallet, phone or insulin kit, rather than male genitalia.

Speaking to the Herald last night, Scott said he would not attend a council meeting today but vowed to remain working as a councillor as he had not yet been convicted.

Defence lawyer Mike Antunovic asked that a conviction not be entered yesterday and Judge Peter Hobbs agreed.

“I have never had a criminal conviction,” Scott told the Herald. “I had a speeding ticket 38 years ago.”

As he had been elected by the district’s 52,000 people he had no intention of stepping down.

“I will carry on. This is the worst thing that has happened in my life.”

Prosecutor Kate Feltham said the complainant was a professional woman who took her job seriously.

Scott has been remanded on bail until June 19 for sentencing.

Council CEO Wayne Maxwell declined to comment last night.