Ex-Castle Point MP Bob Spink says his life was 'thrown into turmoil'

Bob Spink (right foreground) told the court he has collected more than 1,000 signatures in his career

An ex-Tory and UKIP MP accused of tricking constituents into signing electoral forms has told a court his life has been "thrown into turmoil".

Bob Spink, 69, who served as an MP for Castle Point, Essex, is accused of fraud during the Castle Point borough council elections in May last year.

He denies five counts of permitting a false signature to be included on a nomination form for a UKIP councillor.

Southwark Crown Court heard people thought they were signing a petition.

Mr Spink told the court he has been involved in politics for 30 years and had probably collected more than 1,000 signatures on nomination forms.

"There's never been any suggestion of impropriety, until now," he said.

Mr Spink told the court he has been involved in politics for 30 years

The court was told that at the time, Mr Spink was principally collecting 100 signatures in his bid to become Essex's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) - an election he lost.

Mr Spink said his life had been "thrown into turmoil" since he was charged in March.

"Had I realised there was a risk of confusion and that I'd be stood here in this dock, having lost a year of my life, then obviously I would have said things differently," he said.

"I thought I had a good possibility of winning. I would be in charge of the police and I would need people's complete trust. Why would I put that at risk?"

UKIP agent James Parkin denies six counts of the same offence as Mr Spink

Mr Spink, from Benfleet, Essex, was Conservative MP for Castle Point from 1992 - 1997, and again from 2001.

In 2008, he defected from the Conservative Party and joined UKIP, effectively becoming its first MP.

He appears on trial with UKIP agent James Parkin, 38, of Canvey Island, Essex. He denies six counts of the same offence as Mr Spink. He has admitted two similar charges.

The trial continues.