A RETIRED council boss has lost an appeal to keep his guns — after a court ruled he was a "confrontational man" who always thinks he is right.

Adrian Golland, former assistant director of engineering at Bolton Council, had his appeal against his firearms licence being revoked thrown out at Bolton Crown Court yesterday.

Police confiscated Mr Golland's target-shooting rifles amid concerns surrounding his behaviour, with his shotgun and firearms licence revoked in March this year.

Police made the decision after both his wife and a local vicar complained about his behaviour.

Judge Timothy Clayson, sitting with two magistrates to hear the appeal, said the court had no hesitation in dismissing the appeal.

His dispute with the Rev Nick McKee at St Paul's Church in Astley Bridge started when the 71-year-old renovated a sink at the church.

But when a notice was put up warning people not to use the sink — because it was too close to an electrical socket — Mr Golland became angry.

He claimed the note "trashed his reputation" and complained to senior Church of England officials.

He also resigned as chairman of the church’s building group.

The court was told that Mr McKee and wardens repeatedly apologised to Mr Golland for how the matter was initially handled, but that he would not let the matter drop.

Officers served the pensioner with a police information notice, which is given to people where there are allegations of harassment.

But he then wrote to Greater Manchester Police chief constable Sir Peter Fahy to accuse firearms officers and Mr McKee of being involved in a conspiracy against him.

Judge Clayson said: "The picture emerges of Mr Golland as an intransigent and confrontational man.

"He was not going to accept anything apart from the most effusive apology.

"He considers he is always right, no matter how insignificant the nature of the dispute may be.

"The court notes that the dispute with Reverend McKee arose from nothing more grave than whether a sink and some sockets were located too close together.

"His subsequent allegation that he had been defamed was an unreasonable reaction to a trivial problem.

"He is guilty of making a false allegation against the reverend and accusing the police of being involved in a conspiracy, which is unjustifiable."

Police were called to Mr Golland’s home in June 2013 by his wife Carol — who said he had assaulted her by pushing her to the floor after the pair had returned home from Bolton Little Theatre. The matter was not taken any further.

Mr Golland, who now faces prosecution costs of £4,657.80, said he was very disappointed by the decision and said there were "factual inaccuracies" in Judge Clayson's summary.