A town councillor has appeared in court charged with historic sex crimes allegedly committed while he worked as a teacher at a prestigious school.

Cllr Russell Tillson, a sitting Conservative councillor for New Romney town council, has been accused of five counts of indecent assault dating back almost 40 years.

Cllr Tillson appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court today over the charges, which relate to reported incidents involving boys in Tonbridge between 1984 and 2001.

In court, a representative for the crown said that the alleged offences took place at Tonbridge School, where the 71-year-old was a teacher.

He said that the councillor had been regarded as the "gatekeeper for pupils regarding their applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities."

Cllr Tillson pleaded not guilty to all five charges of indecent assault, and refused to provide a comment outside court.

He was released from court on unconditional bail, to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on April 19.

As well as holding a seat on New Romney Town Council, the councillor is also a representative on St Mary in the Marsh Parish Council.

He previously served as the Deputy Leader of Shepway (Now Folkestone and Hythe) District Council, as well as being the Chairman of the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives Association.

It is not clear if he will lose either his Town or Parish Council seats as a result of his charges.

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Both councils have been approached for comment.