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A UKIP candidate who stood to become a county councillor has admitted he knew his nomination form contained a forged signature.

Derby Crown Court heard how John Geehan told a friend he was having trouble getting enough signatures to be nominated for the Ilkeston West seat on Derbyshire County Council.

As such, the friend signed the form on behalf of his wife, unbeknown to her.

Geehan, of Margaret Avenue, Ilkeston, then handed in his nomination form knowing it contained the forged signature.

The 72-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of causing or permitting on a local government election nomination form the signature of an elector to assent a candidate’s nomination, which they knew was not written for that purpose.

Fellow UKIP candidate Terry Calladine, 57, of Lime Grove, Long Eaton, and who stood in Ilkeston South in the same election, had three similar counts against him dropped.

The election took place in 2017. Geehan received 237 votes in a seat that was subsequently won by Conservative Tony King, who received 1,560 votes.

The court heard Geehan was asked to stand by Mr Calladine as a 'paper candidate' - someone who has little chance of winning. The main purpose of fielding paper candidates is to maintain or improve the profile of a political party.

Prosecutor Gareth Roberts said Geehan agreed to stand, despite not wanting to be a councillor. He then went to the house of a friend and asked him if he would sign his nomination form.

“That man was a supporter and agreed," Mr Roberts told the court.

“Mr Geehan told him he was having trouble getting people to sign his form so the man said he would sign it on behalf of his wife, who was also a supporter.

“The defendant then handed that form in knowing it had a forged signature on it.”

Mr Roberts said the matter was investigated and the couple who signed Geehan’s nomination form were interviewed by the police.

He said: "She confirmed that the signature was not hers and her husband admitted he had signed it, saying he was going to tell her but it slipped his mind."

The husband said he had known Geehan for a number of years and didn't realise the forged signature would land him in court.

David Outterside, for Geehan, told the hearing the offence should be treated as a "a minor, technical breach of the law".

He said: "(Geehan) was asked by Mr Calladine if he was prepared to stand as a paper candidate.

“That is someone that has no chance of being elected.

“He certainly did not want to be a councillor and did no campaigning.”

Recorder Graham Huston fined Geehan £80 and ordered him to pay £80 costs and a £30 victim surcharge - £190 in total.

He said: “The courts will always attach great importance to those that deliberately commit this kind of offence.

“But your culpability is negligible.

“This was a well-intentioned error of judgement with no attempt to deceive or gain an advantage.”