Hartlepool by-election: Voyeur Christopher Killick stands

Christopher Killick admitted a voyeurism offence last year following a campaign by his victim

A sex offender hoping to be Hartlepool's next MP has vowed to continue his campaign despite his voyeurism conviction being revealed.

Christopher Killick is standing as an Independent in the 6 May by-election.

He was convicted last year for filming a naked woman in a hotel room while she was unconscious, following the woman's five-year campaign for justice.

Killick, 41, who recently moved to Hartlepool, said it was "inevitable" his conviction would come out.

He did not, however, declare his conviction on any election forms or tell anyone who nominated him as a candidate about the offence.

"I decided not to mention it to them to make it simpler or easier for me," he said.

'Big mistake'

The former shop assistant was given a 30-month community order and was fined £2,000 after admitting voyeurism.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay his victim £5,000 in compensation.

Killick had filmed a 62-second clip of the woman in a hotel room in Bethnal Green, east London, in 2015.

His victim campaigned for five years to have him prosecuted after the CPS claimed his actions were not illegal.

Who can stand to be an MP?

To be an MP, a candidate has to be at least 18 years old on the day they are nominated and a citizen of Britain, Ireland or the Commonwealth.

According to the Electoral Commission, certain people can be disqualified from standing though.

These include:

• Anyone who has been convicted of a crime that resulted in more than a year in jail

• Anyone currently subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or debt relief restrictions order made by a court in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Anyone convicted of illegal electoral practice in the previous three years or corrupt electoral practice in the previous five years

Killick expressed regret over the offence, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

He said: "I've always maintained that it was a big mistake and I want to say I'm sorry.

"Although I didn't talk about the offence on my election leaflet, I'm not trying to hide what happened.

"I'm here, I've been sentenced in court, I'm not barred. 

"I do want to emphasise that I am actually here to campaign politically. My goal is purely to help this country.

"It was inevitable it would come out so I'm just playing it as it comes really."

Killick is one of 16 candidates vying to be Hartlepool's next MP, after Labour's Mike Hill resigned.

Mr Hill is facing claims of sexual harassment and victimisation, which he denies.