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Tory chiefs have distanced themselves from a Llandudno Conservative who told a woman she faced at least five years in jail - over a Facebook post about the Assembly elections.

Garry Burchett contacted Alison Shields, from Llandudno, to tell her she risked up to five years in prison for breaking electoral rules when she criticised Conservative Aberconwy candidate Janet Finch-Saunders.

The maximum penalty for any such offence - which has not been proven - is a £5,000 fine.

Alison Shields had posted a comment saying she was voting for the Plaid Cymru candidate Trystan Lewis ahead of Thursday’s poll, and alleging Mrs Finch-Saunders had in her view not been supportive of the Restore campaign to improve Llandudno beach.

She then received an email from Mr Burchett - who was a regional list candidate for an Assembly seat - telling her: “I do not want to come across as threatening in any way but you are breaking electoral law by writing unsubstantiated comments about a candidate during the election ... if this is reported to the Electoral Commission they can have (you) prosecuted. The minimum sentence is five years.”

Miss Shields told the Daily Post she felt intimidated by the message, adding: “I got the message from Garry Burchett on Wednesday and I panicked because it sounded really official. My post was taken down, I assume, by Facebook.

“I would never have believed I was getting threats of five years in prison from a potential member of the Assembly there to represent all views.

“What happened to freedom of speech?”

The Post has now been allowed back onto Facebook.

“It has been really upsetting and all because I voiced my opinion on what I believe . It was my personal opinion based on my experience.”

Town councillor Mr Burchett is a former mayor of Llandudno and was previously an aide to Mrs Finch-Saunders.

He declined to comment when we approached him.

Mrs Finch-Saunders - who won the Aberconwy seat after Thursday’s poll - said: “The comments made by Garry Burchett are not representative of me, and in no uncertain terms were they written on my behalf.

“As far as I’m concerned, the matter is now closed.”

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “The statement in question was written from a private account and does not represent a viewpoint or stance taken by the Party.”

Both Mrs Finch-Saunders and the Conservative have since distanced themselves from Mr Burchett’s comments.

Under the Representation of the People Act, section 106, making false representations about a candidate can result in a fine of up to £5,000 but no custodial sentence.