WARRINGTON Borough Council leader Cllr. Russ Bowden will face trial by jury next year after pleading not guilty to electoral malpractice at Liverpool Crown Court today.
The trial has been set for January 9 2023 and could last for up to five days.
Cllr Bowden, aged 52, faces 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 last year, while he was living at a property in Lower Walton.
He previously 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 he was charged 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.”
