COLCHESTER mayor Tim Young became embroilled in a row when he stepped in to confront a member of the public for riding a private scooter on a public pavement.

Mr Young, who is serving his one year term as Colchester first citizen, told a member of the public on Monday evening he would have to report him to the police for riding the e-scooter illegally.

But a verbal confrontation then ensued in which the scooter rider swore at Mr Young before he allegedly swore back - a claim the mayor denies.

The scooter rider, Mark, who was confronted by Mr Young, said the mayor started shouting, “I’m a councillor, I can do what I want and I will make your life hell.”

But Mr Young denies this accusation claiming, in fact, it was Mark who was the aggressor.

He said: “He came along the pavement on Hythe Hill, slid past and I said ‘That’s not legal, you do realise you can’t ride those’.

“He swore at me and I said ‘OK, I will take your address because I will have to report that [you’re riding an e-scooter illegally]’.”

When pressed about the legitimacy of the e-scooter Mark was riding, the 40-year-old admitted it was a private e-scooter and therefore wasn’t legal.

He said: “I was on the pavement but I was nowhere near him – he just wanted to cause an argument.

“I lost my temper and swore at him. Anyone else in that situation would have done the same thing.

“I don’t think it’s right for someone who is in a position that he’s in to behave like that – he’s lost my vote because who he thinks he is I have no idea.”

Mr Young denied threatening the member of the public and added: "Absolutely not – I absolutely did not say that.

“He’s just covering himself because he knows he’s in the wrong.

“I will swear on a dozen bibles that is what happened.”