A GWENT councillor banned for one month after allegedly threatening to throw a social worker out of a window, should have his ban extended to six months, a panel has recommended.

Graham Powell, councillor for the Severn ward in Caldicot, yesterday stormed out of the meeting with the Adjudication Panel for Wales.

He had hoped to reverse the one-month ban imposed by Monmouthshire council's standards committee last August.

However, after he had left yesterday's panel meeting, at the Hilton Hotel, Newport, the panel recommended that his ban, which prevents him from attending council meetings, be extended by a further five months.

The 78-year-old former council leader was appealing against the decision last year in which he was found to have breached the co-uncil's code of conduct, and used "threatening, intimidating and abusive behaviour".

The ruling followed a meeting in August 2002 in which Councillor Powell allegedly threatened to throw a social worker out of a window.

Colin Berg, corporate director for social and housing services, complained to The Ombudsman about Councillor Powell, on behalf of his staff.

Yesterday Councillor Powell, of Sandy Lane, Caldicot, claimed he had been denied "a fair hearing".

The tribunal was halted after Councillor Powell's presentation of his evidence - a string of allegations against Colin Berg, the Ombudsman and the social worker. Chairwoman Helen Cole said the evidence was "irrelevant."

Afterwards, in Councillor Powell's absence, Mrs Cole said: "We have examined the evidence and given due consideration to Councillor Powell's long-standing service and his reputation in the community.

"We have no reason to doubt his integrity but consider his behaviour at the meeting in August 2002 wholly unacceptable."

Councillor Powell later said: "I'll take the matter as far as I need to in order to clear my besmirched name.

"I wasn't allowed to present my evidence - the tribunal refused to listen. "I'll take advice on what to do next but I'm already considering a judicial inquiry."

Monmouthshire's monitoring officer Murray Andrews said: "The recommendations will go back to the Standards Committee for its consideration."

Councillor Powell is stepping down from local government at the June 2004 local elections after 55 years of service.