Man, 82, guilty of police assault

An 82-year-old man has been found guilty of assaulting two police officers while on his way home from a church mass on Christmas Eve.

Former Kent County Councillor Frank Gibson pushed one officer and twisted the thumb of another, Chatham Magistrates' Court heard.

He contested the evidence given by both officers. Gibson said: "It would have to be done with my left hand. I have very arthritic joints and could never push a big policeman back two paces.



"I would not have been able to grab anybody's thumb and twist it, making them squeal."

But magistrate Angela Howe rejected his testimony and said the officers' gave true accounts during her summing up.

He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs.

Photo from here.