HE HAS been dubbed one of Hampshire’s most controversial councillors.

Veteran Tory Goff Beck has often made headlines for all the wrong reasons, including an incident in which he says he deliberately broke the speed limit to test the enforcement system.

In 2009 the former Royal Marine was found guilty of bullying a former councillor and forced to apologise.

But Cllr Beck has just become the public face of New Forest District Council, having been elected as chairman for the next 12 months.

Described as blunt and forthright, the former cabinet member is likely to carry out more than 100 engagements between now and next May, meeting members of local organisations as well as representing the authority at functions across the south.

Last night fellow councillors defended their decision to elect him as chairman despite his controversial past.

The council leader, Cllr Barry Rickman, said: “Goff is a do-er with a lot of get up and go. He will work very hard on behalf of the authority.

“Yes he’s a controversial character – but no-one gets it right every time.”

In March 2015 it emerged that Cllr Beck had received a warning letter from police after he was caught driving at 43mph in a 30mph zone in Wiltshire.

Speaking at the time he said he deliberately broke the limit “to prove that speeding drivers get caught”.

In 2012 half his fellow Conservatives on New Milton Town Council urged him to resign, claiming that some of his actions had resulted in the public criticising the authority.

It came three years after he was found to have bullied a fellow councillor.

Members of the district council’s standards committee concluded that he had carried out what they described “an unreasonable personal attack” on Cllr Margaret Lloyds.

Last night the Barton ward councillor said he had no regrets – and vowed to continue speaking out.

Asked if he would be on his best behaviour during his term as chairman Cllr Beck said: “I always am - it’s the way other people take it.

“I speak my mind as honestly as I can, and if that annoys or upsets people, so be it.”

Cllr David Harrison, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, added: “I think Goff would accept that he’s sometimes sailed close to the wind and has, at times, upset people.

“I think he was particularly brave to stand out against some negative attitudes in New Milton a few years ago.”

Cllr Maureen Holding, a former chairman of the council, also praised the former warrant officer.

She said: “Goff has a heart of gold and will do anything for anybody, but he’s blunt and forthright and tends to say what he thinks. He’s also totally honest, which can upset people.

“I think he will be a good chairman. He cares about people and that’s what’s important.”