FORMER Dudley mayor Cllr Ray Burston has profoundly apologised after admitting he used a council computer to access pornography.

The Conservative councillor announced his resignation as shadow spokesman for the environment at a meeting of the full council tonight (Monday July 15).

Cllr Burston revealed he had used a machine belonging to the authority to view adult websites at his home.

Cllr Burston said: “Whilst the images that have been downloaded are not of an illegal nature, such access even so constitutes a clear breach of the council’s protocols governing use of its IT equipment.

“Furthermore – and a matter of no less import – this access represents a breach of personal, political and religious beliefs that I hold dear and by which I have endeavoured to live my life.

“I have also breached a trust that has been placed in me by the people of Hayley Green and Cradley South ward who it is my privilege to represent.”

Cllr Burston’s use of council computers to access porn came to light when the laptop computer was being repaired.

The shamed councillor first served on Dudley Council from 1988 to 1996 and was re-elected in 2000.

He was the borough’s first citizen in 2008/9 and was previously a member of the audit and standards committee.

He told the silent council chamber he intends to stay on as a ward councillor but as an act on contrition will donate the remainder of his member’s allowance for his term of office to the current mayor of Dudley’s charities.

Dudley Council’s Conservative group leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, says the matter is now closed as far as he is concerned.

Cllr Harley said: “This is a personal tragedy for him and his family, he has handled it with dignity and grace.

“His honesty and integrity is without question. He was offered our full support and could have continued in his role.”

Cllr Harley added he did not feel the matter should be dealt with by the council’s standards committee which he said would not be able to hand out a punishment more severe then the one his former front bencher had imposed upon himself.