Pipe, a former Royal Navy seaman, claimed that he was simply joking.
A Conservative councillor in the UK has been ordered to take equality, diversity and inclusion training after repeatedly mocking a colleague’s Irish accent for almost a decade.
Bill Pipe, who represents Lytchett Matravers and Upton on Dorset Council, was summoned to a disciplinary meeting after a female council officer claimed he put on a fake Irish accent when speaking to her over a period of eight years.
Pipe, a former Royal Navy seaman, claimed that he was simply joking with his colleague and didn’t realise that he had offended her.
When he got an “inkling” that his co-worker had complained, he made a pointed remark about speaking in an English accent the next time he saw her.
At the meeting, it was found that Pipe had breached the council’s code of conduct, with panel chair Councillor Susan Cocking labelling his actions as “harassment and bullying”.
Cllr Cocking said the committee was “appalled at the lack of respect shown and the mocking suffered by the member of staff”.
“His behaviour was offensive and not acceptable under any circumstances. We can only apologise to that member of staff – no one should be subject to such treatment,” she added.
Speaking at the hearing, Mr Pipe said: “The lady I spoke to in a fake Irish accent, I have known for eight or nine years, and I have always greeted her as a friend in a fake Irish accent and she has never complained to me.
“Had I known that my doing this would offend or belittle her I would have stopped immediately and apologised.
“Because she hadn’t complained I thought she was taking it in the spirit in which it was meant; a jovial, happy sort of way.
“It is pretty sad that it has got to this. I’m sure we have better things to do.
“I do accept that my actions fell below the standard expected, 25 years in the armed forces obviously doesn’t do me any favours in the council.”
Cllr Cocking ordered Pipe to apologise to the officer in writing and take a course in equality, diversity and inclusion training.
A behaviour mentor will also be put in place “to offer ongoing guidance and support”.
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said that Cllr Pipe will not be stripped of his duties as the committee has no power to suspend or disbar councillors.
Mr Pipe was also previously alleged to have made a homophobic joke and a remark about a “visible panty line”.
He denied these allegations and the claims were struck out by an investigating officer acting for Dorset Council’s standards committee as they could not be substantiated.
In a separate incident at a meeting of the council’s police and crime panel in 2020, he suggested that “certain races” were more likely to commit crimes in England.
His remarks offended colleagues and were found to be “unacceptable and disappointing”.
Pipe undertook equality and diversity training in the wake of this incident.
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