A POLICE officer's reputation is in tatters this week after a crown court judge upheld his conviction for kicking in the front door of an elderly neighbour's home during a parking dispute.

In September 2004, Stephen Arthur Mutton, aged 42, was found guilty at Warrington Magistrates' Court of causing criminal damage.

Last week, Judge Gareth Edwards dismissed Mutton's appeal.

Mutton, of Winchester Avenue, Great Sankey, is a firearms specialist for Cheshire Police.

His trial surrounded an ongoing argument with his neighbour, Peter Lyons, aged 79, over parking.

Mr Lyons complained that other residents parked their cars in front of his drive.

On Saturday, September 20 last year, Mr Lyons and his 77-year-old wife Gladys were awoken by a "terrible crash" at 11.50pm.

As Mr Lyons went downstairs to investigate, his wife looked out of the front window and recognised Mutton - a 6ft 4in former Warrington Rugby Union player - who was lit up by their security light.

She shouted to her husband that it was "the policeman from across the road".

Mr and Mrs Lyons saw that the bottom of their UPVC door had been damaged.

Mutton admitted being on Mr and Lyons' driveway but said he had gone to talk to the pensioner after seeing him outside. He denied kicking the door and causing damage.

Mutton was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a total of £580 costs.

Following the guilty verdict, a spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "He is still suspended pending an ongoing, internal misconduct investigation."