Richard Cater says he is prepared to go to prison rather than pay the tax

Richard Cater walked out of court in Ipswich, Suffolk, after complaining that a magistrate was treating him like an "errant schoolboy".

On Monday magistrates told Mr Cater, of Ipswich, to pay the �687 he owes.

The World War II veteran now faces having property seized by bailiffs and ultimately a prison term.

Mr Cater was adamant that he was taking a "moral stand" and said he would do all he could to stop bailiffs getting into his home.

I think they are charging grossly in excess of what is necessary and its morally indefensible Richard Cater

He also said he was prepared to go to jail.

Mr Cater has refused to pay the full �1,312 bill for his band D property because, he says, councillors are charging "grossly in excess" of what is necessary.

"I am not doing this for me, I am doing it for everyone else who is also being unfairly charged," said Mr Cater, whose council tax bill has risen by 4.6% this year.

"I have no objection to paying for what is necessary, but I object to paying for what seems to me to be councillors satisfying certain whims.

Hard-up people

"For example, opening libraries on Sunday or campaigning for Ipswich to be granted city status.

"I think they are charging grossly in excess of what is necessary and it's morally indefensible.

"There are some very hard-up people who can't afford these amounts and if someone doesn't do something it will get worse and worse.