Gravesham council staff have been spat at, run over and subjected to a sexual assault but only one person has been prosecuted, we can reveal.

The offences against local authority workers show the extent of violence perpetrated against the borough’s parking wardens, housing officers and other council employees.

Yet, despite 77 reports of aggressive and unacceptable behaviour from members of the public, only person was brought before the courts with the majority resulting in no action taken.

The crimes were revealed to the Messenger in a freedom of information request detailing the amount of attacks on council workers over the last four years.

By far the main targets of abuse and assaults were parking staff making up nearly a third of all cases, followed by customer services (nine) and housing (eight). Police were informed in 16 of the 77 incidents.

Despite the worrying statistics the information shows the total number of reports has significantly lessened with 13 reports this year compared to 20 the previous one.

Gravesham council leader John Cubitt said while it was pleasing the number of attacks had decreased, assaulting staff was never acceptable.

He said: “The council always takes attacks and verbal abuse directed at its staff very seriously.

“While it is good news that the total has decreased in the last year no level of assault or abuse is ever acceptable.

“Our staff recognise they are often dealing with people who are in distress and under pressure.

“They make some allowance for this but there is never an excuse for mistreating public servants who are doing their jobs.

“Much of the abuse has been directed at our enforcement officers and this is not acceptable.

“They do a difficult job with the aim of keeping traffic moving freely through the town, keeping our streets litter free and preventing people from avoiding parking charges.”

The most serious cases highlighted in the figures show workers were spat at, pushed, tapped on the face and one employee even had their foot run over.

Another shows a staff member was subjected to an attempted sexual assault while another was injured after being hit with an air rifle pellet.

Parking wardens are most likely to be attacked with just under a third of attacks committed against them.