North Yorkshire Police has said it will not be taking any action against Ripon mayor Barbara Brodigan.

Councillor Brodigan was reported to the police last month for alleged fraud by fellow Ripon city councillor Sid Hawke, as reported here.

He claimed Cllr Brodigan supplied a fraudulent resignation letter from him to newly-appointed locum town clerk Adam Chugg.

The force said in a statement today:

“The report has been reviewed by our economic crime unit and there is no evidence to support a criminal offence. No further action will be taken.”

Cllr Brodigan described the allegations as “false and defamatory” at Ripon Parish Meeting on Monday. You can read more here.

Today she said:

“I’ve been vindicated. I’ve said all along that what Sid Hawke said is untrue.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Brodigan added Cllr Hawke “probably will receive a letter from my solicitor”.

Resignation letter

The legal row erupted after Cllr Brodigan agreed to help former mayor, Cllr Hawke, draft a letter of resignation from the city council.

The two parties met, but Cllr Hawke later said he had changed his mind about resigning. Instead, he rejoined the independents group led by Cllr Andrew Williams, who is a member of the Conservative Party.

He claimed Cllr Brodigan handed in the resignation letter to Mr Chugg, even though he had neither signed nor approved it, and subsequently reported this to the police.

Cllr Brodigan told Monday’s meeting she had “three witness statements lodged with my solicitor that fully support my account of events”.

She also told the meeting she had contacted the police and been told there was “no record of any complaint made against me”.

Speaking today, she said she had been told that by North Yorkshire Police, but Ripon police subsequently informed her a complaint had been lodged, and today’s developments had vindicated her.

She also said she maintained that Cllr Hawke had “verbally resigned” although he currently remains a councillor.