THE leader of Warrington Borough Council, Cllr. Russ Bowden is set to face trial by jury after pleading not guilty to electoral malpractice.
Cllr Bowden, aged 52, appeared before Warrington Magistrates via video link facing three counts of providing false information for a purpose connected with the registration of electors and one of permitting a false statement to be furnished to a returning officer at an election.
The allegations involve providing his home address as a house in Birchwood while standing at the Warrington Borough Council elections earlier this year, while he was living at a property in Lower Walton.
He denied the latter charge, but was not asked to enter pleas to the remaining three and will now appear at Liverpool Crown Court next month, having requested to be tried by a jury rather than by magistrates.
The allegations followed Cheshire Constabulary receiving information relating to the Warrington local council elections 2021.
Cllr. Bowden has been charged with one count of providing a false statement in nomination papers (contrary to Section 65A of the Representation of the People Act 1983) and three counts of providing false information to a registration officer (contrary to section 13D of the Representation of the People Act 1983).
At the time of the charges Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service said ” We would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Bowden are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.
At the time a Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The council is aware of the investigation and charges. As this is an ongoing matter we will not be commenting further.”
