WE, the undersigned, all residents of the Gibbonsdown Estate, believe Gibbonsdown Ward councillor Robert Curtis should be investigated by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and its standards committee, and the Ombudsman.

In our minds, he has broken the authority’s code of conduct, following his recent guilty plea to common assault on a 17-year-old girl. A 50-year-old man committing an offence on a teenager is a deeply disturbing matter. In our view, it is extremely worrying that he may be allowed to carry out public duties which involve people of all ages, young and old.

Although he committed this crime while not in a council capacity, he is known widely as a Vale of Glamorgan and Barry Town Councillor, and through all the media coverage he has instigated for himself over many years. We believe he has broken many conditions of having a councillor title.

He has not shown respect and consideration for others, the victim, and the tax payer who believed that he had resigned from a cabinet position, after stating he wanted to dedicate himself to his paid employment.

If his councillor colleagues claim they never knew he was caught up in the court system, it is clear he misled them as well as the public. If they did know, it throws their judgement into question, and is of serious concern to residents. He has brought both councils into disrepute, having not been law abiding, and this breaches all our trust.

From his statement it appears he has pleaded guilty to ease stress. Surely one does not plead guilty to a crime one has not committed? Surely it is for the court system to decide?

We are also concerned about how residents are represented in the Gibbonsdown community. He volunteers cleaning beaches, which the Vale of Glamorgan Council does an excellent job with, but steers clear of his own ward, where all litter-picking contributions would be greatly appreciated. He takes extended holidays, and while everyone is entitled to holiday leave, does he still get paid public money for this time away?

Considering an independent councillor was censured by the standards committee for putting a photograph on social media, surely the standards committee should be investigating a far more serious matter where a crime has been committed and admitted. Or is the standards committee prey to double-standards where there is a rule for one, and another rule for others, depending on your political leaning?

Jean Jones, P Ellis, Chloe Jones, Debi Gee, Michael Gee, Ethan Gee, Evelyn McAuley, John Beith, Barbara Warburton, Bryan Warburton, Lynda Evans, M Saunders, G Saunders, J Dyice, J Perett, M Perrett, A Davies, all of Michaelson Close; K Powell, Barbara Marshman, Molly Conway, Emma Seldon, all of Coychurch Rise; Peter Pappas, Jeannette Pappas, Margaret Eveleigh, Pat Matthews, J Prior, M Prior, Barbara Dyke, Vivien John, Lynden John, Harry Jones, Mariam Jones, Yvonne Beith, A GellicK, T Brookes, J Twinney, K Humphreys, P Humphreys, G Williams, P Prosser, G Evans, L Evans, all of Pendoylan Close, Gibbonsdown, Barry.