BARRY'S notorious 'flying vet' says he has suffered years of harassment at the hands of local police in South Wales, Taunton, and Guernsey.

Maurice Kirk, 56, of The Marlpits, St Donat's, Llantwit Major, made the claims before the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

He is at the hearing accused of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect in relation to about 20 convictions he has had in the past seven years.

Mr Kirk, who practises at The Barry Veterinary Hospital, 49-53 Tynewydd Road, Barry, handed a list of 31 unrelated incidents, mostly overturned convictions or matters where charges were withdrawn involving driving offences - to the committee in his defence.

The vet had argued that the convictions - where they were relevant to his professional practice - did not amount to misconduct and that he had been denied the opportunity of obtaining witnesses.

However, committee chairman Mr Brian Jennings said this was not the case and there was "significant evidence" that Mr Kirk had a case to answer on both the convictions and of a separate allegation of disgraceful conduct relating to an incident at Cold Knap Beach, Barry , on January 7 last year.

Mr Kirk is accused that when he was attending an injured dog in the presence of members of the public he behaved "inappropriately by acting in an aggressive and/or angry and/or agitated and/or rude manner," thereby bringing the profession into disrepute.

His convictions include three assaults - one on his 17-year-old tenant and another on a member of the public at a showground where Mr Kirk could only be subdued by the use of CS gas.

On another occasion Mr Kirk allegedly assaulted an aircraft engineer, Christopher Ebbs, of 13 Millbank, Upper Cam, Dursley, Gloucester, whilst trying to get the papers for his aeroplane.

After a row at a local pub the irate Mr Kirk allegedly threatened Mr Ebbs with a shotgun, saying: "I know where your parents live."

He also has 10 driving convictions, three of verbal abuse, one of resisting arrest and two relating to his veterinary practice.

Mr Kirk challenges the facts of seven of the convictions and disputed the entire conviction relating to him assaulting a member of the public at a showground. He also denied acting inappropriately at Cold Knap beach.

Earlier, Rev Mark Danks from the Small Mission Church in Barry, spoke out for Mr Kirk, about "the kindness he has shown me for 10 years."

The committee adjourned the case to a date to be fixed when it will resume to hear further evidence.