THREE councillors walked out of Wootton Parish Council's monthly meeting in protest, last night (Tuesday), after their calls were rejected for convicted rapist (and the meeting's chairman), Cllr Daryll Pitcher, to stand down. 

Meanwhile, Cllr Pitcher said he would 'not be lectured' and a supporter accused a colleague of bigotry.   

Daryll Pitcher, 46, is seeking permission to appeal against his February 20 conviction for two counts of rape, between June 1990 and March 1992.

He previously attended the parish council's meeting on February 21 — just one day after his appearance at Isle of Wight Crown Court.

Isle of Wight County Press: Last month Cllr Daryll Pitcher was convicted of two rapes. He is pictured here at Wootton Parish Council meeting, on Tuesday, March 21. Last month Cllr Daryll Pitcher was convicted of two rapes. He is pictured here at Wootton Parish Council meeting, on Tuesday, March 21. (Image: IWCP.)

The Norman Way resident was due to be sentenced in April, but if he is granted the right to appeal, the process will be delayed. 

On Tuesday night, March 21, in Wootton, Cllr Barry Abraham urged Cllr Pitcher to 'step aside'.

Cllr Abraham told the meeting that although he did not wish for Cllr Pitcher to resign as a councillor, it would be "for the good of Wootton" if he did not attend meetings until he had either been sentenced, or an appeal against his conviction for historic child rapes had cleared his name.

Cllr Abraham told Cllr Pitcher: "I'm really disappointed you're here and that you haven't absented yourself from attending.

"You shouldn't be taking part in any meetings. To do so holds the parish council in contempt.

"It's a snub to the people of the village."

He also called it a snub to Cllr Pitcher's victim.

Cllr Abraham added: "We don't need you at these meetings until you're actually cleared, or been handed your sentence.

"If you don't remove yourself, I have no option but to not attend parish council meetings. That's how strongly I feel."

Isle of Wight County Press: Chair of Wootton Parish Council, Daryll Pitcher, on Tuesday, March 20, who is seeking permission to appeal his conviction for two rapes.Chair of Wootton Parish Council, Daryll Pitcher, on Tuesday, March 20, who is seeking permission to appeal his conviction for two rapes. (Image: IWCP.)

Cllr Abraham's call was backed by Cllrs John Ward and Trish Evans.

Parish clerk, Liz Kingston, said Isle of Wight Council's monitoring officer had confirmed Cllr Pitcher is legally entitled to remain as a councillor until he is jailed, or an appeal has run its course.

However Cllr Evans called it morally wrong and Cllr Ward asked if it was right for someone to be discussing parish business concerning children while on the Sex Offenders' Register. 

Meanwhile, Cllr Barry Hailstone, argued Cllr Pitcher had every right to sit at the meeting. 

To Cllr Abraham, he said: "You're wrong. You're bigoted. You've got your own agenda. 

"If you don't sit with him as chairman, [someone] who has done more for this parish, this village, in the past ten years, than any other councillor here, there's the door and go."

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight Crown Court, where Cllr Daryll Pitcher was sentenced last month (February).Isle of Wight Crown Court, where Cllr Daryll Pitcher was sentenced last month (February). (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

Cllr Hailstone's comments were applauded by some, including Shanklin Town and Lake Parish councils' Cllr Adrian Whittaker, who said he was there to observe.

Cllr Pitcher accused Cllr Abraham of making his conviction 'political' and said: "I will not be lectured. I'm staying as chairman. That's my final decision."

Cllrs Abraham, Ward and Evans left the Wootton meeting, while Cllr Whittaker called for Cllr Abraham to resign and to "show some respect" to Cllr Pitcher.

Cllr Pitcher has stepped down from some Isle of Wight Council committees.

He said he did so,"to stop the awful feeling of what I might have been subjected to, had I taken part in them" and said he was "concerned for my own safety."