PRESSURE is mounting on Fareham councillor Hugh Pritchard to resign after he admitted defrauding his council.

The Liberal Democrat representative for the Fareham South ward was fined £300 by magistrates after admitting that he falsely claimed £1,200 in housing and council tax benefits.

Cllr Pritchard has already stood down from his position as chairman of Fareham's planning committee.

However, now he has been convicted of the fraud, colleagues are calling for him to consider his position.

Conservative councillor Arthur Mandry said: "It is with great regret that I say this as Cllr Pritchard did do a first class job as chairman of the planning committee, but I don't think he should remain as a member simply because it is a regulatory body. We should regulate ourselves first.

"In my view he should stand down as a councillor as he has admitted that he committed a criminal offence."

Carole Steadman, wife of former Tory councillor Dennis Steadman, who was ousted by Pritchard at the May 2002 elections said: "I think he should definitely go. To think that my husband lost his seat to a dishonest man just makes me angry."

Lib Dem colleagues refused to condemn the 67-year-old councillor, saying his future at the council was a matter for him to consider.

Cllr Jim Murray said: "He should consider his position all round, but as far as his future as a councillor is concerned that is between him and the council."

Cllr Dorrine Burton-Jenkins said: "I do know that benefit forms can be very complicated to fill out, but as far as his resignation goes that is something for the group to consider and I dare say we will be having a meeting to discuss the matter."

Outside court, Cllr Pritchard refused to comment or confirm if he would resign from the council.

Fareham council leader Sean Woodward has called on Lib Dem group leader Roger Price to remove him immediately.

He said: "The public should have confidence in their local authority and we should preserve the good name of Fareham Borough Council."

Cllr Woodward added that the matter was likely to be forwarded to the Standards Board for England who could still insist that the councillor be struck off if he refuses to resign.

Cllr Pritchard was unavailable.