A 39-year-old retained firefighter has been sent to prison for 18 months for attacking his former girlfriend in her home.

Clive Tester, a father of two daughters, from Cliffe Woods, near Rochester, has now been dismissed by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, after being jailed by a judge at the Old Bailey.

Tester had worked as a firefighter at Cliffe Retained Station, in Swingate Avenue, Cliffe.

He had denied attacking Caroline Thompson at her houe in Bexley in July last year, but was convicted for the assault in March at Woolwich Crown Court.

Tester had claimed Miss Thompson had made up the attack out of revenge after discovering he was in a new relationship.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “I can confirm he was a retained firefighter for Kent Fire and Rescue Service. He has now been dismissed, but can appeal against that decision.”