A FORMER chairman of Kent County Council has appeared in court charged with assaulting two young police officers.

The policemen allege Frank Gibson, who is arthritic and relies on a stick to walk, pushed an officer in the chest and twisted the thumb of another constable after they questioned him on his return home from holy communion.

Mr Gibson, 81, also a former mayor of Gravesham and appointed an OBE by the Queen, denies two counts of assaulting a police officer.

The court heard the officers, watching for drink drivers, pulled Mr Gibson over on Singlewell Road, Gravesend, as he returned in his Volvo from a church service on Christmas Eve last year.

A breath test was taken. It was negative as Mr Gibson had only had a sip of communion wine.

Mr Gibson refused to get out of his car, claiming to have done nothing wrong. He claims the two officers grabbed an arm each and dragged him from his vehicle.

On Tuesday PC Steven Cole told Medway magistrates Mr Gibson grabbed his thumb. He said: “It hurt. He twisted it back and I noted down that I let out a yelp.”

The officers, including PC Thomas Mander McGregor, who was given a bravery award last year by Chief Constable Mike Fuller, called for backup, before arresting Mr Gibson.

He was handcuffed by the side of the road and detained in a cell for about five hours on Christmas Day and finally let home at 5am.

During the case John Fitzgerald, prosecuting, said: “Mr Gibson’s reaction was to push PC Thomas Mander McGregor in the chest and proceed to walk back to his car.

“Mr McGregor stumbled backwards a couple of steps, unaware of what Mr Gibson had done to him. Mr Gibson then got hold of PC Steven Cole’s thumb and bent it back as he struggled to get free from the officers’ hold.”

Mr Gibson, of Windmill Street, Gravesend, is attempting to clear his name, but the matter will not be resolved until January next year, when the next available courtroom becomes free.

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