A town councillor will stand trial accused of 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.

Tillson, of Ship Close, Dymchurch, will appear at Maidstone Crown Court on June 19 2023 on charges involving boys in Tonbridge between 1984 and 2001.

The alleged offences took place at Tonbridge School, where the 72-year-old was a teacher.

A previous hearing was told the councillor had been regarded as the "gatekeeper for pupils regarding their applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities."

Tillson - dressed in a blue suit and striped tie - was represented by barrister David Osborne at Maidstone Crown Court this week.

He told Judge Charles MacDonald QC a website had been publishing details which could lead to a prosecution of contempt of court.

The officer in the case, DC Joshua Gearing, told the court the publishers had now been spoken to and had agreed to take down details.

The judge was then alerted that someone in the public gallery was taking notes. The man identified himself as "head of communications" at Tonbridge School.

He told the court he was taking notes on behalf of the headmaster.

Tillson holds a seat on New Romney Town Council and 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.

He was granted unconditional bail until the trial.

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