AN IRATE Beckenham man has admitted he is prepared to go to jail in protest at council tax increases.

Pensioner Patrick Grant says he is taking a stand against what he describes as "blatant council lies" despite having a court ruling hanging over him.

Mr Grant's frustration boiled over after claiming the Labour Government did a U-turn on its pledge to only increase council tax by the rate of inflation.

But Labour leader Councillor Peter Fookes, who was co-leader of Bromley Council during the coalition with the Liberal Democrats, denied such a promise had ever been made.

And last year Bromley Council increased its tax by 9.8 per cent compared with the inflation level of three per cent. The former railway driver decided to pay only three per cent more than his 1999 bill.

Now the 71-year-old, of Aylesford Avenue, has been ordered to pay the outstanding £76 by Bromley magistrates and threatened with the bailiffs if he does not comply.

But he vows he will face a prison sentence rather than cough up the remaining money.

He said: "I think it's absolutely despicable the council has increased council tax so much. Someone has got to take a stand against what has become a complete rip off. I would rather go to jail and make a point than pay the money. To my mind it is just down right deceitful and they are lying to members of the public. They're not even telling the taxpayers what these increases are for.

"The general feeling around where I live is the rises are a joke and something needs to be done soon."

A council spokesman said: "Council Tax is a statutory debt and taxpayers are not permitted to withhold money they owe. The council takes firm steps in recovering money due and court action will be taken when money remains unpaid."

July 23, 2001 17:26