It has emerged that Paul Flowers was convicted of an indecent act when he worked as a minister in the south of England.

Mr Flowers pleaded guilty to committing an act of gross indecency at public toilets in Botley, Hampshire, 32 years ago.

At the time Mr Flowers, then 31, was a leading Hampshire Labour Party member known as the “political parson”.

Fareham Magistrates’ Court was told Mr Flowers had not gone into the toilets with any indecent intentions.

Magistrates fined him £75 and ordered him to pay £35 in costs.