A TOWN mayor has stepped down after he was arrested on suspicion of a sex offence.

Paul Thomas handed back the mayoral chains of Upton-upon-Severn and stepped down as a town councillor after tabling a resignation letter to the council in February. He cited personal reasons for the unexpected move.

Your Worcester News can now exclusively reveal Mr Thomas had earlier in the month been questioned by police on suspicion of voyeurism by recording a private act. Under Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act, it is an offence for a person to record a private act with the intention that that person or a third party would gain sexual gratification.

Following Mr Thomas’s arrest on Thursday, February 11, he was bailed the following day to return to Worcester police station at a later date while enquiries continue.

Mr Thomas, who is married with three daughters, was elected mayor by Upton Town Council in May last year and lives in Malvern.

He handed in his resignation letter to the council at its meeting on Tuesday, February 23. Simon Yates stepped in to replace him.

Councillors have written to Mr Thomas thanking him for all his hard work during his years on the council and wishing him well for the future.

Malvern Hills District Council deals with any breaches of standards by serving councillors, including those on town and parish councils, and is not investigating Mr Thomas’s conduct.

“The only role of the district council in matters like this would be to investigate any breaches of the elected members code of conduct,” said a district council spokesman.

“At this moment in time we understand this matter is unrelated to his duties as a councillor.”

A spokeman for south Worcestershire police confirmed “a man arrested on February 11 on suspicion of ‘voyeurism – recording a private act’, was bailed the following day to return to Worcester police station while enquiries continue.”

Mr Thomas was unavailable to comment.