A FORMER mayor of Winchester who was arrested after an incident in the street outside his home vowed he would prove his innocence.

Ray Pearce, 60, has been charged with affray and wilful obstruction of a police officer and has been bailed to appear at Andover Magistrates Court on November 9.

Mr Pearce, of Cheriton Road, Fulflood, said: "I am fighting this. I am innocent. It's going through the courts and the full story will come out. I have made an official complaint to the police."

Officers were called to an incident involving his neighbours last month. Mr Pearce, who was in his pyjamas, had called the officers but within minutes of their arrival he had been arrested and taken to North Walls police station.

He said: "I have always been an upright citizen of this city, so his has all come as a shock. This is going through the courts and I have nothing to hide. I have faith in the court so I have nothing to fear.

"The whole thing has been devastating, horrendous," said Mr Pearce, who works at the Duthie and Laurie carpet shop in the High Street.

The complaint against the police will be investigated once court proceedings are over.

Mr Pearce was mayor in 1994-95. He is a Liberal Democrat city councillor who has represented the St Paul's ward which covers Fulflood and Teg Down since 1986. He fought ten elections to get onto the council.

He currently sits on the planning and leisure, arts and community committees.

A friend of Mr Pearce, who asked not to be named, said: "The whole thing is outrageous. You could not meet a gentler person.''

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