Ex-Conservative MP David Mackintosh not guilty over election donations

The prosecutions that ended in David Mackintosh's acquittal were the first under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000

A former Conservative MP has been found not guilty of failing to disclose the true source of political donations in the first ever trial of its kind.

David Mackintosh, ex-MP for Northampton South was cleared at Warwick Crown Court over donations to Northampton South Conservative Association (NSCA).

Co-defendant Howard Grossman was also cleared after a month-long trial.

Mr Mackintosh said "justice has been served", adding: "I have cleared my name."

Mrs Justice Eady had earlier told the jury she would accept a majority verdict of 10 or 11.

Mr Mackintosh, 44, represented Northampton South for the Conservatives between 2015 and 2017.

The former MP, of Station Court, Northampton, was accused of withholding information about the source of £39,000 donated to his election campaign fund.

Howard Grossman was accompanied in court by his wife Mandy throughout the trial

He stood trial alongside businessman Mr Grossman, 61, of Greenacres, Bushey, Hertfordshire, who had been accused of using third parties to conceal the source of nine separate donations to NCSA during 2014.

Both men denied the charges against them.

Mr Mackintosh, a former leader of Northampton Borough Council, told the court he did not know any of the third parties' donations had been provided by Mr Grossman.

This was the first-ever Crown court trial brought under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), which was introduced as part of the constitutional reform implemented by the 1997 Labour Government.

It followed recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life which were designed to make politics more transparent.

PPERA includes measures on party registration, political donations and campaign expenditure.

The court heard the money used to fund Mr Mackintosh's campaign came from a company owned by Mr Grossman called 1st Land Ltd.

1st Land had been set up to redevelop parts of Northampton Town FC's Sixfields stadium, a project which had been funded by a loan from the then Northampton Borough Council to the club.

More than £7m of that money was passed on to 1st Land but those funds seemingly disappeared when the company went bust.

Analysis - Matt Precey, BBC East reporter

This has been a landmark trial - the first time that a prosecution of this kind has been brought - and comes after a lengthy and complicated police investigation.

While the fact that Mr Grossman's donations to Mr Mackintosh's campaign were made through third parties was not disputed, the businessman and the ex-MP had both denied concealing their true source.

Neither defendant answered detectives' questions at interview, instead providing written statements.

While Mr Grossman opted not to give evidence in court, Mr Mackintosh did take the stand, painting a picture of a local party that was out to get him.

The case hinged on a conversation said to have taken place at the opening of Northampton's new bus station in March 2014.

Mr Grossman said he had been told by Suresh Patel, then NSCA chairman, to use third parties to make his donations. Mr Mackintosh said he been kept in the dark about this arrangement.

Neil Hawes KC, for Mr Grossman, told the jury: "If you think it did or might have happened, you must find Mr Grossman not guilty."

In court, Mr Patel denied both defendants' accounts.

Following the verdicts, Northamptonshire Police said: "This was an important test case as it was the first time these offences have been prosecuted and we respect the jury's decision after five days of deliberation.

"While David Mackintosh and Howard Grossman were acquitted, it should be remembered that five individuals have pleaded guilty to facilitating disguised payments with two awaiting sentence."

Al Mayfield, 67, from Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, was fined £6,000 in 2021 after being the first to plead guilty.

Nirav Sheth, 50, from Harrow, west London, and Leonard Western, 73, from South Oxhey, Hertfordshire, received suspended prison sentences in January.

'A new chapter'

The remaining two defendants, Gary Platt, 67, and Sharad Bhimjiyani, 68, both from Harrow, have yet to be sentenced.

In a statement, Mr Mackintosh said: "Eight years ago false allegations were made against me but finally today justice has been served and I have cleared my name.

"It has been a difficult time for my family, my friends and for me but now a new chapter begins.

"In light of today's verdict I'm sure that some members of the Conservative Party in Northampton will be searching their souls.

"I would like to thank my solicitor Riad Ahmed and my barristers, Cairns Nelson KC and James McCrindell, for their work and support before and during the five-week trial, and for believing in me.

"Finally, I thank my dad, my brother and my whole family and friends for their love and guidance throughout this whole ordeal."