A LEADING Hampshire councillor has been left with a bill that could top £80,000 after a court ruled she had unlawfully slapped an election candidate at a count.

Penny Jackman, a Lymington and New Forest councillor, saw "red mist" and "lashed out" at UKIP hopeful Mike Beggs, slapping him "hard" across the face.

Mr Beggs, now 75, said he lost teeth in the attack which happened in front of political rivals and left him "seeing stars" as they awaited the results of the votes being counted at Pennington Women's Institute Hall on February 9, 2012.

Councillor Jackman had protested her innocence, saying she did slap the pensioner but was acting in self defence as she was "scared" by Mr Beggs who was intimidating and in her face.

Following a three day trial at Southampton County Court, judge Peter Ralls QC ruled in favour of Mr Beggs, who will now be awarded damages of more than £14,000 as well as costs which were estimated at around £72,000 but are yet to be finalised or taxed.

The court heard how the assault took place around 11pm when the pair came face to face at the count and Cllr Jackman swore at Mr Beggs because she was angry at the "filth" he had written about her in his UKIP election leaflet.

She claimed to the court that his face was so close to hers that she could feel his "spittle" landing on her skin and she "froze" fearing she was "about to be physically threatened or attacked".

But Mr Beggs described how Cllr Jackman, who he voted for in the elections, had swore at him, called him "an old fart" and told him he had no business being at the count.

Judge Ralls told how Cllr Jackman had sent an email apologising profusely for her actions the following day, saying she was "only human and we all do things we regret from time to time".

Ruling in favour of Mr Beggs he said he didn't believe the incident occurred in the easy Cllr Jackman suggested and that she did not fear an attack was imminent.

He said: "for a moment the red mist descended. She lashed out, slapping him very hard with her right hand. At worst he was taunting her. Perhaps not pleasant, certainly not polite, but it did not justify her slapping him. She crossed the line drawn in the sand by the law."

Speaking after the case, Mr Beggs said he was "sad" that the case had come to this - blaming years of delays in resolving the matter on Cllr Jackman and her legal team.

He told the Daily Echo that his solicitor made an offer to settle the matter for £6,000 in February 2012 but that was rejected.

Mr Beggs said: "It's now going to cost ten times plus. I am very sad. It is purely by her not accepting what she has done or taking responsibility that it has become so expensive."

In a statement Cllr Jackman said she was relieved the matter was now resolved.

She said: "Some you win, some you lose, but he was in my face scaring me. It's not the end of the world. I'm not a criminal, I have my health and the love and unconditional support of my family. It is enough for me that this matter is finally resolved after nearly four years.

"I am looking forward to a less stressful life now the trial is finally over."