Gosport Mayor Steps Down After Pub Ban

15 July 2014, 19:02 | Updated: 15 July 2014, 19:08

A Hampshire mayor has stepped down after he was banned from all of the pubs in his town after he is alleged to have been involved in "drunken'' behaviour in his first day in office.

Wayne Ronayne was banned from 36 pubs in Gosport by the town's Pub Watch following the incident on June 4.

The Conservative councillor, who denies that he was drunk, has decided to resign after his appeal against the decision failed.

The former Royal Navy warrant officer said that he took the decision to step down because he did not wish to bring the "mayoralty into disrepute''.

He said:

"I was sober when I arrived and sober when I left.

"There was no argument. We left quietly and peacefully.

"My decision is not based on any admission of wrong-doing.

"I do not wish to bring the position of the mayoralty into disrepute, nor tarnish the good reputation of Gosport.''

Gosport Borough Council will now seek to find a new mayor within the next week.