A WARRANT for the arrest of a former Thurrock councillor was issued after he failed to appear in court.

James Baker, 36, of Alexandra Way, East Tilbury, who was a ward councillor for the village from May 2015 to May 2019, was due to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 21 October.

He was charged with assaulting a police officer on 3 July this year. He did not appear, which led to the issuing of a warrant.

Mr Baker's time as a UKIP councillor was turbulent.

In November 2015 he was assaulted by a gang of four who hurled abuse at him before throwing stones and bricks, as he made his way to a meeting over proposals for 1,000 new homes in the village.

And in May the following year he was suspended briefly by UKIP after he sent an e mail full of swear words to a local resident. He was reinstated after making a public apology and said his action were "way out of character and will not happen again".