Pembrokeshire County Council has spoken out following the conviction of an elected member for serious sexual offences.

Dai Boswell, the member for Pembroke St Mary North, has been found guilty of raping and indecent assaulting two young girls. 

Boswell is also a Pembroke Town Councillor and a former mayor of the town.

Boswell has today (Tuesday) been remanded into custody to await sentencing.

A statement issued by Pembrokeshire County Council, said:"Following the trial at Swansea Crown Court, Town and County Councillor David (Dai) Boswell has been found guilty of five extremely serious indecent assault offences against children under 13-year-old, including the rape of a child under 16 years old.

"Sentencing is scheduled to take place on July 13, 2018.

"Unless the Councillor chooses to resign from both roles with immediate effect, the process is now as follows: the County Council seat of Pembroke: St Mary North will be declared vacant as soon as the legislation permits.

"The Local Government Act 1972 states that a Member is disqualified from holding office if, since election, he has been convicted of an offence and has been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than three months.

"Conviction is deemed to occur on expiry of the period allowed for making an appeal or application with respect to the conviction (the defence has 28 days in which to serve an appeal notice following conviction) or the date on which such appeal/application is finally disposed of.

"It is at that point that the vacancy is deemed to have occurred and the County Council may then immediately declare the office to be vacant and public notice of a vacancy can be issued.

"Throughout this period, the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults has and will remain of paramount importance for the Council."