A day in the life: Cllr Christine Cottam (Lab), Wigan council

"It’s 4am when my dog shoves her nose into my ribs, to wake me!!!??

I let her out into the garden, make a thermos of tea and retire back to bed, to work on papers and listen to radio four. At 7.30am it’s time for our constitutional to nearby Hough Woods and home via Lilford Park , where I want to check how the drainage is progressing. By the park gates a fellow dog walker wants a word about recycling and another about public footpaths. This is fortuitous: the footpaths’ officer is coming to see me.............."Oh!.... what a lovely old dear she is...?

(Look out for this classic coming from Cllr Cottam in the above link: "Coming home, I pass someone with a spade over his shoulder, walking into Leigh in the hope of casual work on one of the new building sites. He wants a word too......" You just couldn't make it up.. could you now)

Labour Cllr. Dr Christine Cottam getting ready to meet her constituents yesterday.

Dr Christine Cottam to appeal after £200 fine

A LEIGH councillor has been found guilty of assaulting a former rugby star.

Leigh East representative Dr Cllr Christine Cottam 61, of Birley Street, denied attacking ward resident Colin Tyrer but was fined £200 at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The case is believed to have risen as the result of a dog attack while the two were walking their pets in February.

It is alleged Dr Cottam picked up a lead and swiped sixties’ Leigh and Wigan full back and goal kicking ace Mr Tyrer across the face with it......

A founder member of LASARS (Leigh Asylum Seekers and Refugee Support) she also supports EFIG-Africa, a charitable organisation helping impoverished girls through education. The full report can be found by clicking on the link here:

Wigan borough Solicitor Kevin Lawson: “We are aware of the court proceedings and the outcome. We have been notified that the councillor concerned intends to appeal. The level of penalty imposed by the court was such that it does not affect her continuing standing as a member of the council.”

I wonder if anyone else in 'the real world' would have wormed their way out of this assault with barely a slap on the wrist?

Another entry to the Liars, Buggers and Thieves blog I hope?