A Sutton councillor has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault.

Worcester Park Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Fenwick admitted a single count in front of Westminster magistrates yesterday and was handed a year-long conditional discharge and a fine.

He has voluntarily resigned the Liberal Democrat whip meaning he is no longer a member of the Liberal Democrat group on Sutton Council and is now an independent councillor.

Council leader Councillor Ruth Dombey has condemned Coun Fenwick’s actions.

The charge relates to an incident at the Bonapartes pub in Charing Cross station in central London on January 4. He was involved in an altercation with a barman and called him a migrant and told him to go back to his own country.

Coun Fenwick had been out watching football and to a friend's house and had been drinking heavily when he arrived at the bar.

The sentence means Coun Fenwick will not face punishment unless he commits a further crime in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs and fines totalling £200.

The Sutton Guardian has tried to contact Coun Fenwick for comment but he has yet to respond.

It is unclear whether he intends to resign as a councillor.

Prior to his resignation from the party he had been due to stand for reelection as a Lib Dem councillor. It is unclear whether he will stand in May's council elections.

Coun Dombey said: "Any form of racial intolerance or abuse is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have accepted his resignation."

Liberal Democrat Coun Lester Holloway took to Twitter to urge Coun Fenwick to make a stement. He tweeted: "It's essential that @steephen80 offers a full and unconditional apology for racially aggravated assault."

Coun Fenwick has been on Sutton Council since 2010 and is a member of several committees including the Cheam North and Worcester Park local committee and the development control committee.

Surrey Comet:

The incident happened at a pub inside London's Charing Cross station