The deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council faces a two-month suspension from the Conservative Group after a pornographic DVD was found in his council laptop.
Tory Group whips yesterday published a report of an investigation into the conduct of Councillor David Sprason, saying he showed a serious lack of judgement.
Coun Sprason temporarily stood down in November from his roles as deputy leader and cabinet member for adults and communities after a letter was leaked to the Leicester Mercury about the DVD, entitled She Likes It Rough, discovered in his computer by a council technician in 2007.
The letter from the then county solicitor to Coun Sprason said no illegal activity had occurred, but told him not to view any such material on a council computer again.
Tory whips say Coun Sprason broke two party rules after giving an interview to the Mercury which resulted in a story that led to widespread coverage in the national media.
Coun Sprason told the Mercury he and his wife Sue, a Conservative councillor on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, had watched the DVD in their bedroom but that he had forgotten to remove it before returning the laptop for repairs.
He told the Mercury: "Me and the wife use things to help our relationship.
"It's one of those situations that shouldn't have happened.
"I'm not embarrassed. There was nothing dodgy about it.
"It's the kind of thing that can easily be bought in an adult shop."
Coun Sprason declined to comment yesterday.
He was interviewed for 90 minutes by the whips as part of their investigation and was asked if, as a senior politician experienced in dealing with the media, he should have known better than to make the comments he did.
He replied: "I defy anyone to find anything in that article (the Mercury's) that's embarrassing."
He told the panel the Mercury had written the story "in such a way to be salacious and to cause maximum embarrassment to him and his family", but disputed it had caused embarrassment to his family.
He was told he should have known his comments would cause severe embarrassment to the council, but he said he had shown good judgement by being open and honest.
He argued it was the decision of the anonymous person who leaked the letter that caused embarrassment – not his decision to be interviewed by the Mercury.
He said he was subsequently advised he should not have stepped down from the cabinet and as deputy leader as it added "fuel to the fire".
He said he would like to see the source of the leak investigated.
The investigation concluded Coun Sprason had allowed his private life to cause embarrassment to the party and that he had failed to uphold "the highest standards of leadership and integrity''.
The whips have recommended a two month suspension from the Tory group which will be reduced to a month if Coun Sprason issues a written public apology.
Their report also says Coun Sprason "should not hold any executive role, other office or representative role on behalf of the Conservative Group".
It adds: "If the leadership of the group wished to reconsider that position, a considerable period of time should be allowed to pass before doing so.
Council leader Nick Rushton said he would urge party members to support the recommendations when they meet to discuss it on January 10.
Coun Rushton said: "He has been unwise in his comments and they have caused the council and the party embarrassment.
"I have said I will be tough in dealing with disciplinary matters.
"I can't let him off. He has already paid a high price.
"I would like to say that David Sprason has been an excellent councillor representing people in his division and in his cabinet role but this has damaged his political career."
Neither council officials nor the Conservative group are to take any further action to discover the source of the leak.
