THE Isle of Wight Council has no powers to remove a serving councillor from office after he was found guilty of historic child rape offences.

Cllr Daryll Pitcher was convicted at the Isle of Wight Crown Court yesterday (Monday) after a six-day trial.

A jury reached their verdict after nearly five hours and found him guilty of two counts of rape between June 1990 and March 1992 — when he was a teenager.

During the legal proceedings — in which Pitcher has maintained his innocence — he has been a serving member of the Isle of Wight Council, chairing sub-committees and attending meetings.

A council spokesperson confirmed Pitcher, 46, currently remains in office and the council has no powers to remove him from his position.

Unless Pitcher resigns or becomes statutorily disqualified from holding office, he can remain in his role as the Isle of Wight Council's representative for Wootton Bridge.

Under the Local Government Act 1972, a councillor can be disqualified from holding a position on a local authority if they are sentenced for longer than three months.

Speaking after the verdict yesterday, Recorder Richard Onslow told Pitcher he had no sentence in mind for him and all options were open.

Pitcher will be sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court in April.

A pre-sentence probation report is being produced.

Pitcher has already been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

He has not been remanded in custody, instead bailed to appear at the sentencing with the condition not to contact the victim.

During the trial, the victim told the jury Pitcher had taken her virginity when she was a child and raped her on two occasions.

Read more from the trial here:

The Isle of Wight Council declined to comment further, stating as court proceedings have not yet concluded it would inappropriate to do so.

The authority is next expected to meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to determine its finances for the year ahead.