A MAGISTRATE who fought off an armed gang was arrested himself for racially aggravated assault.

Nigel Stringer, 67, claimed his family had been attacked by a group of men armed with a gun, knives and even a crossbow at his Norwich home six months ago.

2 Nigel Stringer, pictured with wife Cindy, claimed he found a knife after the attackers stormed his Norwich home Credit: Jenny Goodall/Daily Mail/Solo Syndication

The magistrate and property developer said he had called police as the men stormed his home before facing them with a hockey stick.

Mr Stringer believes the confrontation may have been sparked by a dispute with a tenant over rent arrears, with both sides using the inflammatory term "n*****s*

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Stringer said: "I went outside and I kept shouting loudly at him to leave and that the police were on the way.

"I used my hands and the stick to push him away from the house. He kept punching and kicking me. I was by that time bruised, bleeding and utterly exhausted."

2 The magistrate has now stepped down from his position to pursue private prosecution Credit: Jenny Goodall/Daily Mail/Solo Syndication

But he said the confrontation continued to escalate, claiming to see four other men nearby, calling out derogatory words.

Mr Stringer said: "I had no strength left, I only had my voice and I tried to find the most shocking words to shout, thinking that if they came through that hedge we could be killed. There was nobody there to save us, we were alone.

"Using their own words, I shouted 'and if you n*****s come into my garden I will f***ing hit you with this'. I merely flung their own words back at them. I am not racist."

After the confrontation, the remaining intruder called police to report he had been attacked and racially abused.

And when police arrived, they arrested Mr Stringer and his son on suspicion of racially aggravated assault.

I used my hands and the stick to push him away from the house. He kept punching and kicking me. I was by that time bruised, bleeding and utterly exhausted Nigel Stringer

None of the men nearby were arrested.

Mr Stringer, who has served as a magistrate for more than 20 years, is now standing down from his position to pursue private prosecution against the men.

He said his family had a history of policing, and would "turn in their graves" if they knew he had been arrested over modern political correctness for defending his home.

The married father said his experience was a "warning" to all homeowners that police were unable to protect them.

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He said after the incident, he found a discarded metal bar and three knives in his garden.

Norfolk Police confirmed a file had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr String remains under investigation.