A former Conservative police and crime commissioner candidate accused of election fraud will stand trial next summer.

Jonathon Seed, 63, is said to have failed to disclose to the authorities a 30-year-old drink driving conviction that would have disbarred him from running to be Swindon and Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner at an election.

The former Army major won the election in May this year. When it emerged three days after polling day that he was disqualified from holding the position, the election was re-run in August – reportedly at a cost to the taxpayer of £1.5m.

Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Thursday morning, Seed, of Bromham, Wiltshire, pleaded not guilty to making a false statement on election papers.

Prosecutors claim that on March 21, 2021, Mr Seed wrongly said in nomination papers that he was not disqualified from standing in the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner election. He was charged after an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s fraud squad.

Seed, standing in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, spoke only to confirm his name and not guilty plea.

Judge Ian Pringle QC granted Seed, who remains a Wiltshire county councillor, unconditional bail to return to Oxford Crown Court on July 18 for his trial. The case is expected to last three days.

The judge, who has the honorary title of Recorder of Oxford, apologised to Seed’s lawyer Richard Wormald QC that the trial could not be heard sooner – explaining that it was as a result of the backlog of cases at the crown courts.

Rhiannon Sadler appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service during the short hearing.

 

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