A UKIP councillor who slapped a man outside Clacton Pier at last year’s airshow has spoken of her relief after being given an absolute discharge.

Tendring councillor Lis Bennison, 70, of Pembroke Gardens, Holland-on-Sea, denied assault by beating at a trial at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

It was alleged she assaulted former security officer Anthony Chandler, 37, on August 25 last year when he drove down Pier Gap and stopped to drop his children off to watch the airshow.

He claimed Bennison shouted at him for driving into a pedestrian area and said she slapped him across the right side of his face after he told her to move away from his vehicle.

The defence claimed dad-of-three Mr Chandler had used abusive language towards the councillor and punched her – accusations he strenuously denies.

He also denied any claims that he had endangered the public.

Bennison was found guilty of assault, but was handed an absolute discharge, the lowest-level sentence.

Speaking after the trial, she said the past year had been an “emotional rollercoaster”.

“I am relieved that after 11 months this case has finally been heard, even though my initial complaint to the police has been ignored,” she said.

“My only intention had to been to prevent injury to the public attending the airshow and at least my actions have led to Pier Gap being closed to non-emergency vehicles at future events.

“Since I learned in late November that I was the one being charged, I have been on an emotional rollercoaster and my life has been put on hold.

“I’m glad that the judge has come to the same conclusions that I have held all along, in that no charges should have been brought against me and that he admired my actions.”

Her barrister, Stephen Sweeney, said the councillor was giving up her time to help at the airshow when the incident happened. He said: “What the judge said exonerated her. An absolute discharge means it has gone away completely, and there were no costs and no victim surcharge.”

Mr Chandler said: “I wasn’t happy with her being let off on an absolute discharge, but I’m just glad it is all over and she was found guilty of what she did.”