THE mayor of Middlewich, Cllr Ken Kingston, has been the victim of an ‘unprovoked attack’ following a council meeting last week.


What has been described as ‘vile, hate-fuelled comments’ on social media and ‘abusive phone calls’ to the mayor culminated in Cllr Kingston’s van and driveway being vandalised with paint on Thursday night, April 21.


Cllr Kingston, who is also a long-standing member of the Middlewich Royal British Legion, said: “A neighbour knocked on my door and said have you seen your van and I was shocked. When you have worked so hard all your life it’s a huge shock when someone has so little respect for your property and for the mayor of the town.


“A lot of people have knocked on my door and said how disgusted they are by it and offered to help so I think more than anything it’s strengthened my belief that the vast majority of people are decent. I was taken aback at the number of people who have offered their support.”


It is thought that the hate-fuelled comments and phone calls suggested that the attack was a result of Cllr Kingston voting against a motion to ask Cheshire East Council not to allow any more development in Middlewich until the bypass is completed.


This was not passed after several members including Cllr Kingston voted against the motion due to the wording of it – not to oppose the completion of a bypass in the town.


Paul Edwards, former mayor of Middlewich, said: “The most disappointing aspect of all this is that the town council do not even make the decision on the bypass, it is only an advisory role.


“And it's not the first time a mayor has been attacked by misinformed activists. I have had eggs thrown at my house and car. These unprovoked attacks are the sort of thing that frighten people and stops really good members of the community coming forward.”


Members of the Middlewich Labour Group took to Facebook after the Middlewich Town Council meeting on Monday, April 18, criticising Cllr Kingston and fellow Middlewich First councillors for their vote on the motion.


However, the Labour group has issued a statement condemning the attack against the town’s mayor.


A spokesman for the group said: “Ken and his family are completely non-confrontational and undeserving of such a cowardly attack.


“However much disagreement one has with policies passed in the council chamber, it is every member’s democratic right to vote as they see fit. To send abusive messages or phone calls, or to vandalise property goes against our fundamental belief in free speech, and undermines the democracy on which we all rely.


“We wish Ken and his family well, and hope they are soon able to regain a normal life, although we understand that an attack on one’s home and the threatening of one’s safety is not an easy thing from which to recover.”


The incident is now under police investigation.

Sgt Christian Watkins said: “I would like to reassure the local community that this is believed be an isolated incident. Investigations are currently on-going and we are currently following a number of lines of enquiry.

“As part of the investigation I’m keen to speak to anyone who has any information in relation to the incident.”

Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 110 of 22/4/2016. Alternatively information can be reported to Crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.