JUST hours after appearing in court where he was fined £500 for obtaining information illegally and using it for political purposes, the district council's opposition leader was urged to resign.

Bromsgrove District Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) made the call for Cllr Peter McDonald (Lab, Uffdown and Waseley) to resign.

He said the motion related to the Labour Group leader's conduct and his appearance at Redditch Magistrates Court earlier that day where he admitted the crimes.

Cllr Psirides told members: "Such conduct is unbecoming of a councillor and it is appropriate to invite him to accept that such behaviour is not consistent with his continuing to hold the office of councillor.

"He is invited to do the decent thing and resign."

Even though councillors voted for the motion at last Tuesday's full council meeting Cllr McDonald did not resign.

During the 1999 local election campaign Cllr McDonald obtained a list of free bus pass holders from a council officer and targeted them with pamphlets warning of Conservative cuts to the scheme if they gained power.

At the court hearing he pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Data Protection Act 1984 and was fined £500 and faces £780 costs.

At Tuesday's meeting he told the council he wished he had also targeted sheltered accommodation tenants and warned them about extra service charges they now face under the Tory administration.

Following Cllr McDonald's conviction for a criminal offence, Bromsgrove Tory MP Julie Kirkbride said it is important elected representatives do not abuse the position of trust placed in them by their constituents.

She added: "The Data Protection Act is there to protect innocent people from such abuse and ensure their privacy.

"I'm sure Cllr McDonald and the Labour Party must feel very ashamed."

A spokesman for the West Midlands Labour Party said: "It was a genuine error on Peter's part. He didn't fully understand the rules, he pleaded guilty and he is paying for the mistake now."