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By-election after jailed councillor loses role

Miles Davis
BBC Devon political reporter
Torridge District Council A close-up of Len Ford wearing dark-framed glasses and with a moustache and stubbleTorridge District Council
Len Ford stopped being a councillor after he was jailed for abuse against officials

A former councillor who was jailed for a "tirade of abuse" against a senior official has been removed from his role with a by-election now being held.

Len Ford represented Appledore on the north Devon coast for Torridge District Council but was jailed in January for 18 weeks.

A by-election will now be held on 17 April to contest the seat with four candidates standing.

Torridge District Council said Ford was dismissed as a councillor when his appeal against his jail sentence failed.

Google Torridge District Council offices seen from the street in BidefordGoogle
Torridge District Council is holding a by-election on 17 April

Exeter Magistrates also found Ford guilty of harassment without violence.

Torridge District Council said councillors were removed from their roles under the Local Government Act 1972 if they were given a prison sentence of more than three months.

A spokesperson said Ford appealed the sentence but when the appeal was dismissed he was disqualified as a councillor.

There are four candidates for the by-election: Keith Funnell for the Green Party, Nigel Johnson who is standing as an Independent, Kerry O'Rourke for the Liberal Democrats and Carrie Woodhouse for the Conservatives.

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