BNP man told to behave or face £5k bill

A BNP community councillor was advised by a judge yesterday to undertake to behave himself in future – and avoid being slapped with an injunction.

Llysfaen community councillor Patrick Pattison was warned that if an injunction against him sought by Conwy council was granted it could land him with a £5,000 legal bill. Conwy County Borough Council is applying to serve the order on Mr Pattison following allegations of “unacceptable” behaviour by the 55-year-old former independent councillor, who defected to the BNP earlier this year. Council staff have complained about his conduct towards them, though Mr Pattison claims he has always acted in the interests of his local community.

At a preliminary hearing in Rhyl County Court yesterday District Judge John Thomas estimated that the full hearing would take two days. But first, the judge must consider an application by Mr Pattison that there has been an abuse of process. The judge said that while he did not wish to pre-judge the hearing, Mr Pattison should consider the option of giving an undertaking not to act in the alleged manner in future.

“That would not be an admission that you have done anything untoward but merely a promise about your behaviour in future,” he said. “That would save a lot of time and money and would be a compromise”.

He also warned Mr Pattison that in the event of the council’s application being granted, costs could be awarded against him. Solicitor Peter Brown, for the authority, said the estimated bill was £5,000.

“I am not saying it would be awarded, but it could be,” said the judge.

The matter was adjourned for a full hearing early in the New Year. At a hearing in November, Deputy District Judge Peter Anderson said the case would be heard in Rhyl, but Judge Thomas said yesterday that it could be anywhere in North Wales.

North Wales News

BNP circus rolls into Colwyn Bay for court hearing

The bizarre spectacle of BNP leader Nick Griffin flanked by an entourage of party activists arrived in a tiny court room in North Wales yesterday.

The far-right leader claimed he was providing “moral support” for Llysfaen community councillor Patrick Pattison, amid attempts to slap an injunction on him at Colwyn Bay County Court.

Conwy council wants an order banning Mr Pattison from “behaving in a threatening, abusive or insulting way towards officers and members”. It follows allegations of “unacceptable” behaviour by the 55-year-old former Independent councillor, who caused outrage when he defected to the BNP earlier this year.

Mr Griffin, national chairman of the British National Party, squeezed into the tiny courtroom with four other party members.

Clearly taken aback by their presence, deputy district judge Peter Anderson asked why they were there, and was told by Cllr Pattison: “People are trying to blacken my character and these people have come to offer moral support.”

“That’s fine,” replied the judge: “So long as they are not trying to put pressure on anyone.”

Council solicitor Peter Brown then told the court he would be calling 11 witnesses to give evidence of Mr Pattison’s unacceptable behaviour which led to the injunction being sought. Mr Pattison said he would have only a couple of character witnesses but wished to submit some references without the individuals’ identity being made public.

The 10 minute hearing ended with the judge deciding Colwyn Bay court was unsuitable for the full hearing, due to the unusual interest in it. The case was adjourned until January when it will be heard by in Rhyl.

Outside the court Mr Griffin said he had attended because he felt the case should be adjourned and he wanted to support a member of the party.

“The council in Burnley is trying the same trick against one of our councillors there, and the allegations are groundless. They are up against the European Convention on Human Rights,” he said.

Mr Pattison said his defence case was not yet ready. Mr Pattison, 55, a motor mechanic, of Berth-y-Glyd, Llysfaen, was also accompanied by his girlfriend Wendy Lewis. She read a letter from one acquaintance of mixed race who praised his community spirit and refuted the claim that Mr Pattison was a racist.

Daily Post

BNP man faces Conwy council banning order

An outspoken BNP councillor is being taken to court by a county council accused of being a nuisance and harassing council staff. Conwy County Borough Council is seeking a court injunction against community councillor Patrick Pattison of Old Colwyn to prevent him behaving in a “threatening, abusive or insulting way” towards officers and members.

A judge at Colwyn Bay County Court will be asked on Wednesday to order Mr Pattison’s arrest for any breach of the order if it is granted. Last night, the 55-year-old motor mechanic and self-styled people’s champion of Berth y Glyd Road, vowed to fight the authority in court.

A Conwy council spokeswoman said its lawyers would apply for Mr Pattison, a member of Llysfaen Community Council, to be banned from “engaging in conduct which causes or is likely to cause nuisance, or annoyance to officers and members of Conwy County Borough Council and Llysfaen Community Council.” They will also ask for Mr Pattison to be banned from behaving in manner which “causes or is likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to any person in the area of Peulwys Estate, Old Colwyn”.

The judge will also be asked to ban Mr Pattison from entering the Community House at Môr Awel, Ysgol Tan y Marian and Ysgol Cynfran and also from attending Conwy council housing service offices at Mochdre, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno without the prior written authority of senior officers.

But Mr Pattison responded: “I am not a troublemaker. I’m being victimised by this council, it’s been going on for years. It all boils down to this, the police and council do not like the fact that I am drawing attention to them not doing their job properly. The problem they have with me is that because I am of good character and well liked amongst my community there is no dirt to throw at me. Well if the council and police want to lock horns with me they can do so. I have proved time and time again that I will not be frightened or intimidated. I’ll help anyone if they are my friends and there is a lot of work that needs doing on this estate.”

He insisted he just wanted to represent ordinary, decent tenants over drugs, crime and anti-social behaviour.

He was co-opted onto the Llysfaen Community Council last November to represent the troubled Peulwys housing estate as an independent before revealing he was a member of the far right British National Party.

It emerged last night that council officials have already written several letters to Mr Pattison warning him of his aggressive behaviour towards officers. In a letter written last December and seen by the Daily Post, Conwy council’s head of housing Andrew Bowden warned him his conduct caused “extreme distress to the staff and was entirely unacceptable”.

Mr Pattison confirmed he was banned by Conwy council from a community house on the estate. It followed a row with housing officials and the police in August when he was refused access to a meeting over social problems. The councillor, who quit UKIP claiming a lack of support, denied his attitude with the authorities was intimidating.

“I was never told to calm down, to lower my voice, threatened with arrest or anything else for that matter by the Police,” he claimed.

Mr Pattison said a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman about his behaviour was thrown out.

“I’ve got written proof that wasn’t proceeded with,” he said.

Daily Post