A Senedd politician has been expelled after a probe found he groped and swore at two women during a boozy night out.
Rhys ab Owen, 37, has had his membership terminated by Plaid Cymru.
He had previously been banned from the Welsh Parliament for six weeks in November 2022 during which time he had his £72,057 a year salary stripped.
It was the longest ban ever dished out for a politician in the institution.
The MS for South Wales Central had downed beer and wine at a meeting for the Plaid group before going to a Wetherspoon to drink more.
He swore at one woman before touching her on the waist before squeezing another’s upper high ‘hard with his hand’ in a taxi.
When the other woman told him off and called him out Mr ab Owen swore at her.
Mr ab Owen said his behaviour in June 2021 was ‘not up to the standard the public expects of a member of the Senedd, and for that I apologise unreservedly’.
He said he would ‘respect the decision’ to expel him.
Mr ab Owen said: ‘Today’s decision is the culmination of a long process which I hope will now bring the matter to a close. It is a decision I will respect so that my family and I can look to the future.
‘As I have done throughout, I will continue to work with and for my constituency. I am proud to do so and remain fully committed to serving the people of South Wales Central.
‘My wife and children are my priority above all else and I thank them for their enduring love and support.’
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: ‘Following the publication of the Senedd standards report, there has been an internal disciplinary process within Plaid Cymru.
‘As a result, his party membership has been terminated, and he will not be eligible to re-apply for a period of at least two years.’
Apologising in March, Mr ab Owen said: ‘Simply, I have let you all down.
‘My behaviour on the night in question fell far short of the standard expected of a public official.
‘I had too much to drink that night and I behaved badly. I accept responsibility for my behaviour and the consequences of that behaviour.’
The previous report by Senedd standards commissioner and behaviour watchdog Douglas Bain was submitted to the Senedd in March this year.
That report recommended he face a 42-day ban from the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.