A COUNCILLOR has resigned following allegations he tried to extort cash from a farmer.

Jamie Huntman is being investigated by Basildon Council over claims he extorted £200 from the farmer after claiming his dog had bitten him.

Mr Huntman, who represented Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet parish and was the council’s vice chairman, says he has resigned because he is not happy with the amount of money being spent on the investigation and that it is being heard in private.

The farmer, Robert Lyon, 51, made the complaint alleging Mr Huntman intimidated him into paying £200 compensation due to the dog bite, which allegedly happened when Huntman was delivering the parish council magazine.

The complaint is being investigated by Basildon Council’s monitoring officer Doug Smith, after it was referred to him by a council assessment sub-committee held in private.

Minutes of the meeting said: “The complaint related to the alleged behaviour of parish councillor Huntman while delivering the Bowers Bugle on Good Friday.

“It was alleged the parish councillor claimed to have been bitten by the complainant’s dog, and it was further alleged the parish councillor used the situation to extort compensation monies of £200 from the complainant and behaved in an intimidating way.”

The incident is said to have happened on April 22 during Mr Huntman’s visit to the farm in North Benfleet Hall Road, Bowers Gifford.

Mr Huntman, who denies the allegation, said: “I don’t agree with the procedure. Both people should have their say and then take it further.

“They had a secret meeting and decided to pursue and hired an external lawyer at a cost of £75 a hour.”

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Smith said: “The council has received a complaint from a member of the public alleging parish councillor Jamie Huntman has breached the member code of conduct.

“An initial assessment of the case has been undertaken by the assessment sub-committee, which has determined the case should be referred to an investigator, to establish whether there has been a breach of the code, as has been alleged. No judgment has been made as to whether Mr Huntman has breached the code.”

The Echo contacted Mr Lyon, but he said he did not want to comment until the matter was dealt with by the council.