A FORMER chairman of Kent County Council and an ex-mayor has been found guilty of assaulting two police officers.

Frank Gibson, 82, of Windmill Street, Gravesend, was given a six month conditional discharge and told to pay £910 in costs by Medway magistrates.

The court heard how the pensioner, who suffers from arthritis and needs a walking stick to get about, twisted the thumb of one officer and pushed another in the chest after they pulled him over under suspicion of drink-driving on Christmas Eve in 2006.

A breath test came back negative, but the court agreed that he had "allowed his temper to get the better of him".

Mr Gibson said: "I don't want to speak about this at this time because I intend to appeal the decision."

Mr Gibson has held several senior positions in his local community, including Gravesham mayor, governor of Gravesend Grammar School, and leader of the Conservative group on Gravesham Borough Council.