UKIP candidate banned for 5 years after admitting electoral forgery

The Isle of Wight’s County Press reports on the conviction of a Ukip candidate for forging signatures on a nomination paper:

A UKIP candidate who stood in Isle of Wight Council elections this year, has been banned from public life for five years, after admitting he forged signatures on his nomination form.

Richard Wilkins’ electoral fraud came to light when a Conservative supporter was called before local party leaders to explain why she had supported a UKIP candidate, Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court heard today (Friday).

Fifty-one-year-old sole trader businessman Wilkins, who stood for the Newport North seat won by Matthew Price, forged six of the ten signatures he needed on the form.