A 75-year-old Maidstone councillor and magistrate was left in shock after police wielding riot shields stormed into her home in a midnight raid - because they had the wrong address.

Cllr Margaret Rose, who takes medication for a heart problem, was woken by officers who forced their way into her Tufton Street flat to search for a rape suspect.

She has since made a formal complaint against the force.

Cllr Rose told stunned colleagues at a meeting of Maidstone council's Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Committee: "It was midnight last FridayMarch25. I was asleep in bed when there was an incessant hammering at my door. Bang bang bang! It got louder and louder.

"I stumbled downstairs and there were sounds as if someone were trying to force their way in.

"Then I heard the words: 'It's the police. Open your door!'

"I opened it and was almost knocked over as three police officers entered my hall - they weren't invited in, they came in - sheltering behind a large perspex riot shield."

She said: "They demanded to know: 'Where's Cameron? Where's Cameron?'

"I almost fainted."

Struggling to hold back tears as she recalled the incident, Cllr Rose said: "I told them my name and that I was a borough councillor and also a magistrate, and said 'I don't know who this Cameron person is and I don't understand why you are doing this'."

After interrogating Cllr Rose in her kitchen the officers left.

She said: "I'm nearly 76 years old. I'm taking medication for a health problem and I live on my own."

"I could have died - it was an awful experience"

"I don't want this situation to damage any of the good work that is being done by the police.

"But these police officers who came into my home – with no reason – well, they had the flimsiest of reasons, a neighbour had said: 'Go and try there.'

"If I had not opened my door, I believe they would have pushed it in."

Cllr Rose (Lab) said it was the attitude of the officers that upset her.

She said: "They left me in a such a state – I don't want to talk about this – they left me in a state of shock."

"I could have had a stroke. I could have had a heart attack. I was just left. I could have died, but they were gone. It was an awful experience.

"If only they had just knocked on my door and said 'Sorry madam, we're looking for such and such', they could have assessed me and they could have looked to see if he was there – I would have invited them in – but instead I opened my door and three police officers came diving down my hall.

"I really consider these police officers besmirched their uniforms and the wonderful, courageous work that so many police officers do."

Cllr Rose said she wondered how many other people suffered a similar experience.

She said: "I live in a maisonette in social housing.

"Along from me there are 10 or 12 other accommodations with nice decent families with little kiddies.

"It could have happened to any one of them.

"It could have happened to anyone in this council chamber or any resident in Maidstone."

The next day she went downstairs to speak to her neighbour.

She said: "Exactly the same thing had happened to him. He said his heart was still pounding the next day and he hadn't been able to sleep that night."

Earlier the committee had praised the good work being done by the police and other organisations in tackling the "dark corners of Maidstone".

Cllr Rose said: "I don't what anyone to say that what happened to me is just what the police do, because it's not what they do.

"But I must take this forward because it must not happen to other innocent residents in Maidstone."

Cllr Simon Webb, who was chairing the meeting, offered his sympathy and urged Cllr Rose to report the matter.

He said: "The police must understand the trauma and shock this has caused you and your neighbour."

"There was no apology."

Cllr Rose has since lodged a formal complaint with Kent Police.

She said: "I very much want to emphasise my support and gratitude that is rightly owed to so many brave and committed police officers, but what happened to me makes me very angry and I'm determined to take it forward in a right and proper way."

Cllr Rose received no contact from Kent Police on the issue until after KentOnline had asked the force for comment.

Cllr Rose said she then received a phone call from DCI Mel Smith.

She said: "I was told by DCI Smith that in the scheme of things what happened to me was very low level.

"Officers involved would be spoken to but the level of force was in accord with the suspect's previous record

"It didn't feel low level to me.

"Her call was just a note-taking exercise – there was no apology."

Ch Insp Steve Kent, the District Commander for Maidstone Police, said: "On Friday, March 25, officers attended a number of addresses in Tufton Street, searching for two men wanted on suspicion of rape.

"It is understood one of the residents who received a visit from the officers was not connected to the men they were seeking and had no knowledge of where they might be.

"The resident has made a formal complaint regarding the actions of the officers while at her address and this is currently being reviewed by Kent Police’s Professional Standards Department."