Peterlee Labour councillors found to have bullied former clerk

Labour-run Peterlee Town Council has agreed to pay £200k in compensation to its former clerk after an independent panel found that it had bullied her when she was on sick leave.

Two Labour councillors - Mandy Thompson and Bill Jeffrey - apparently questioned whether the then clerk, Jane Russell, should be paid her full £60k salary after being off sick for more than 6 months and inappropriately involved the police.

The council is also expected to have to cover a £100k legal bill.