ABERYSTWYTH Town Council has launched an investigation to find out who leaked to the Cambrian News a confidential report into websites viewed on former clerk Jim Griffiths’ works computer.

Mayor Endaf Edwards said it had been sent to the Cambrian News “illegally” and that the town council would seek legal advice if the report was published.

The forensic report was compiled by the town council’s lawyers following the suspension of Mr Griffiths for alleged gross misconduct in September 2013.

According to the report, a number of pornographic sites and indecent images were viewed on Mr Griffiths’ works computer.

The report also found a number of other sites accessed for purposes unrelated to work.

Mr Griffiths has strongly denied accessing any pornographic sites and insisted that permission had been given to him and then secretary Carole Prime to access sites such as Facebook as part of town council duties.

He said that a site called Bad Dragon, which he admitted occasionally accessing, was about tattoos, but said: “Staff were given permission to use internet and e-mail from work. As has previously been documented, we both were plagued with pop-ups from adult sites all the time. Carole even showed the councillors the sites when they came in.

“I deny accessing porn sites. This is a clear attempt to blacken my character, just a couple of weeks before a tribunal that the council is scared of.

“I used Facebook, lots of interesting town stuff was on it and the council was interested. We had permission from Lyn Lewis-Dafis who was chair of the staffing panel.”

No disciplinary procedure was undertaken because Mr Griffiths resigned on health grounds, meaning he had no opportunity to dispute the allegations made in the report.

Cllr Edwards told the Cambrian News: “We can confirm that the content of the report was not used in any disciplinary procedure as Mr Griffiths resigned.

“We believe that the report is covered by the Data Protection Act and that the copy has been sent to you illegally.”