A NEWPORT councillor has admitted kerb crawling in the city.

Chris Evans, 56, pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute on Commercial Road in Pill on May 25.

The independent councillor, of Tregwilym Road, Rogerstone, Newport, admitted the offence at the city’s magistrates’ court this morning.

Evans’ lawyer Rod Young said his client had described his actions as a “moment of madness”.

The court heard how the defendant has lost his job as an field sales account manager with Argus publisher Newsquest and expects his career as a Newport councillor to be over.

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Magistrates heard how the councillor was caught with the prostitute in his car near the Asda store in Pill on the night of May 22, 2021.

Natasha Roberts, prosecuting, said a policeman was chasing another man suspected of a crime through West Market Street when he found the pair.

There was no sexual relations between them

The officer recognised Evans through the defendant’s work as a city councillor.

Miss Roberts said: "The officer was chasing after the man on foot.

"He entered West Market Street and continued to look for the man.

"When the officer was in the middle of the road, the defendant's car passed him and pulled up on the side of the junction.

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"The officer walked up to the vehicle to check if the wanted male had been seen by the driver.

"He recognised the driver as a local councillor, having been in meetings with him."

When the defendant lowered his window and said hello, the officer replied: "Hello, you're Chris, the Rogerstone councillor."

Evans told the officer he worked with the woman as part of his role with the Wallich homelessness charity.

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But the organisation said to the police he had no role with them.

The woman later told officers Evans was a "punter".

Mr Young, mitigating, said: “He has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

“It was a moment of madness is how he has described it.

“The defendant is a respected member of the community.

“He has helped prostitutes and the homeless in the Pill area which ironically is how he was known to the officer.”

Mr Young added: “He concedes her services were discussed but there was no sexual relations between them and no money changed hands.

"If he were not a well-known face, he wouldn’t be here today.

“If he had gone through with it, we will never know.

“He has lost his job as a senior advertising manager with Newsquest and is resigned to losing his position as a councillor.”

His solicitor told how Evans had received the backing of many in the community who had left messages of support on his Facebook account.

Mr Young continued: “I could have produced 100 references.

“Unfortunately the law is the law and he has to suffer the consequences.

“He lost his job around two months ago and is claiming Universal Credit.

“He has been suspended from the council from the council for the best part of six months and precluded from sitting on certain committees.

“The defendant’s mental health has suffered and he was close to a breakdown.

“He’s a man who has never behaved in this way before.”

Shijil Miah, chairman of the magistrates, told Evans he had been right to plead guilty and not “waste court time”.

The defendant was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £22 victim surcharge.