Police look again at Clark allegations in light of new evidence

Police are looking again at allega­tions that council chief executive David Clark verbally abused coun­cillor Jonathan Wills in a phone call last September following the emer­gence of new evidence which was highlighted last week by the Shetland Times.

A spokesman for Northern Con­sta­bulary said it was standard prac­tice that whenever fresh informa­tion was produced officers would look at it and assess it before deciding whether to proceed any further.

It is understood that a senior council official is now ready to testify that he witnessed Mr Clark saying earlier in the day in question he intended to threaten Dr Wills that he would “kick his f***ing teeth in” if the councillor did not stop prying into his private life.

That was the exact phrase used in the call on the evening of Wednesday 9th Septem­ber, according to Dr Wills. The police refused to say on Thursr­day whether the official would be interviewed.

Meanwhile, at a reconvened spe­cial meeting on Friday councillors will discuss a report from local govern­ment umbrella body Cosla following talks between lawyers for Mr Clark and the council last week.

The talks, brokered by Cosla chief executive Rory Mair, were convened to secure an agreement between the council and Mr Clark on his departure from his job.

Convener Sandy Cluness had hoped to receive the report in time for this Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, but it was not forthcoming in time. A spokesman for Cosla said the organisation was saying nothing to the media about the issue.

For his part, Dr Wills renewed his criticism of the council leadership this week for failing to act on a complaint made by six councillors, including Dr Wills, on 7th December about Mr Clark’s behaviour in office. At the time Mr Cluness referred the matter to the council’s lawyers.