A CONTROVERSIAL radio host who was sacked after calling a Redbridge councillor a “Nazi” live on air has won a legal battle against a High Court ruling.

Jon Gaunt called Monkhams ward councillor Michael Stark a “Nazi” and an “ignorant pig” during a discussion about council plans to ban smokers from fostering children in the borough.

Mr Gaunt was sacked from his TalkSport radio show a week after the show, before broadcasting regulator Ofcom said that his remarks – in November 2008 – had breached its code of conduct.

The DJ launched an unsuccessful legal challenge against Ofcom at the High Court last July, but now Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Thomas has granted him the right to appeal against the High Court ruling.

His barrister argued that judges at the previous hearing did not understand that Mr Gaunt had been provoked by comments from Cllr Stark about Mr Gaunt’s own upbringing in foster care.

Mr Gaunt said: “I’m very pleased that I’m going to be able to appeal and I’m very confident.

“In the original ruling they said that the ‘ignorant pig’ comment had no context, but what I’m arguing is that it does.

“I still think Redbridge Council is wrong – I think the ban was draconian, and I stand by everything I said in the interview.

“It isn’t over until the fat bloke sings, and I’ve not even warmed up my vocal cords.”

No date has yet been set for the appeal hearing.

Cllr Stark, who was at that time the council’s cabinet member for education, was called by one of the radio station’s directors immediately after the programme with an apology.

Cllr Stark could not be reached for comment this week but previously he said: “I have no feelings towards Jon Gaunt either way.

“I was a teacher for many, many years so I’ve been used to dealing with lots of difficult people.”