The Standards Commission for Scotland imposed the suspension on councillor Alan Donnelly of Aberdeen City Council after receiving complaints that he had failed to comply with the councillors’ code of conduct.

The decision was taken by a panel that determined it was is in the public interest to suspend Mr Donnelly due to the serious nature of the complaint against him.

The suspension follows receipt of an interim report from the Caroline Anderson, Scotland’s Ethical Standards Commissioner, about the conduct of Mr Donnelly, while he was allegedly attending an event in his capacity as a councillor.

The conduct resulted in him being convicted of sexual assault and placed on the sex offenders register.

The complaints about him have not yet been fully investigated by the ESC. Her investigations are ongoing and are not expected to be completed for another six weeks.

Standards Commission convener Professor Kevin Dunion said: “The Code of Conduct is clear about the standards of behaviour expected of councillors at all times.

“While the allegations against councillor Donnelly have not yet been fully investigated by the ESC and are, as such, unsubstantiated, they are of a particularly serious nature.

“We decided that it was in the public interest to impose an interim suspension, to maintain public confidence in the ethical standards framework in Scotland.”

If the ESC investigation does not conclude within the period of the interim suspension, the Standards Commission will consider renewing it.