Former DUP mayor Thomas Hogg, who has been charged with sexual offences involving a child, has resigned from the party.
Mr Hogg, who is 31, has been charged with sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause or incite a child between 13 and 16 years of age to engage in sexual activity. He was arrested following a dance music festival in the grounds of the V36 park in Newtownabbey last weekend.
Mr Hogg was elected as a DUP councillor onto Antrim and Newtownabbey in 2011.
He received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2016 for services to local government, but has resigned from the council ‘with immediate effect.’
He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on October 28.
As is normal, all charges will be reviewed by the PPS.