A DISGRACED councillor claimed more than £6,500 in allowances after turning up to just one meeting – for only half an hour – while being investigated for sexually abusing a schoolgirl and downloading indecent images of children.

Despite spending 150 days out of a possible 271 locked up on remand, Councillor Mark Burton was eligible to claim and receive his councillor’s allowance because he met the minimum requirement of attending one council meeting every six months.

Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon last night called on the married father-of-three to pay back the £6,689.16 he received at taxpayers’ expense since his arrest last May.

The Northern Echo reported yesterday how Coun Dixon has already halted Burton’s allowance payments, after the 43-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday.

Burton will be sentenced on February 23 but, under the 1972 Local Government Act, can only be disqualified as a councillor if he is jailed for three months or more.

Until that time, Darlington Borough Council is obliged to continue paying his allowance.

Coun Dixon – who said Burton could “sue if he disagrees” over his decision to stop the allowance – called on him to repay the whole amount.

Burton, of Middleham Road, Darlington, was due to stand trial on Wednesday for downloading indecent images of children, including scenes of rape and bondage.

The warehouseman, who works at GlaxoSmithKline, in Barnard Castle, was also expected to stand trial separately on the sexual assault charge before his guilty pleas.

The court heard Burton, who has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced, sexually assaulted the schoolgirl after throwing a party to mark his re-election to the Harrowgate Hill ward last May.

He undressed the teenager and touched her intimately after a drinking session.

Following a complaint from the girl, police seized Burton’s computer from his home and found the sickening images.

Now, pressure is mounting on Burton to return his allowance money.

“Morally, he should pay it back,” said Coun Dixon, who is also Darlington Labour Group leader.

“He’s done nothing to earn it. Effectively, Harrowgate Hill has had two councillors instead of three since May.”

Records show Burton briefly attended the full council meeting on September 29, but has not attended any other meetings since his May 5 election.

He was suspended from the Labour Party after the allegations came to light and is now no longer a party member.

Heather Scott, Conservative Party leader for Darlington, said Burton should have been quicker to admit the offences.

“It is a shame he did not plead guilty and resign at an earlier stage.”

Judge John Walford adjourned sentence on Burton to give his victim time to prepare a statement and for probation officials to assess his future risk.