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A SENIOR Midland councillor who kissed a girl of 16 as they danced at a birthday party has been forced to sign the sex offenders’ register.

The sexual assault, in a “moment of utter madness” by former Solihull Council deputy leader Ian Hillas, had ruined his life and reputation, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Hillas, who represents Castle Bromwich ward, was given a 12-month conditional discharge by Judge Michael Challinor following the assault in Cradley Heath. The Judge told Hillas, who had been suspended from the Conservative group after his arrest, that he had been “branded as a sex offender”.

Sarah Buckingham, defending, said: “He has suffered public humiliation and he has been socially and professionally excluded.”

She told the court that politics had been Hillas’s life and he had been devoted to serving the needs of the community.

She said: “There was no planning or sinister intent behind the offence.

“In a moment of utter madness he kissed her on the cheek and on the neck.

“Almost immediately he was embarrassed and appalled by what he had done and he pulled away.”

Hillas, 43, of Oakwood Croft, Solihull, admitted sexual assault.

He was also ordered to pay the girl £500 with £2,151 costs and told to register as a sex offender for a year.

The Judge said Hillas was not a public danger and did not ban him from working with children.