Councillor cleared over 'wrestling match' row

A COUNCILLOR has been cleared of misconduct after a furious fight was compared to a “wrestling match” at a parish council meeting.

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Tensions boiled over in Middleton St George when Darlington borough councillor Colin Pease and parish councillor David Darling were involved in a “physical altercation” at the local community centre in May 2024.

Darlington Borough Council Standards Committee ruled Coun Darling's aggressive behaviour led to the disorder and brought the parish council into disrepute, with witnesses likening the clash to a “wrestling match” with punches and “a rugby-type tackle”.