Man on fraud charges get trial delayed – because he’s running to be Police and Crime Commissioner

All hail the wonderful bureaucratic logic of this:

English Democrats regional leader Steven Uncles has succeeded in delaying his trial alleging election fraud – because he will be running for Kent Police and Crime Commissioner around the same time.

The 50-year-old candidate, of Shears Close, Wilmington, was due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court on April 4.

But despite admitting his chances of success in the Police Commissioner election on May 5 were slim, a judge agreed to adjourn the trial date – possibly until early next year.

He denies seven charges of using a false instrument with intent and three of causing or permitting a false statement to be included in a nomination form in April 2013. [Kent Online]

Note that reference to 2013. Once again, the speed with which justice (doesn’t) move is appalling. Innocent or guilty, it’s a real mess when someone can still be running, neither cleared nor convicted, for election two years after allegedly making a serious breach of election rules.