Jonathon Seed: PCC accused of false declaration found not guilty

Jonathon Seed said he would now fight to recover his legal expenses

An ex-police and crime commissioner (PCC) cleared of making a false declaration in nomination papers said he had endured a year of "personal anxiety and stress".

Conservative Jonathon Seed was elected to become Wiltshire's PCC in May 2021, but withdrew after a historical driving conviction came to light.

He denied a single charge of making a false statement and was facing trial.

But the Crown (CPS) Prosecution Service said it had dropped the charge.

The not guilty verdict was formally recorded on Monday at Oxford Crown Court. The Conservative Party declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

Mr Seed won the PCC election in May 2021 but was unable to take up his post

Mr Seed, 63, from Bromham, said he had been "upfront" with the Conservative Party about the historical driving conviction from 1993, and said he had declared it in writing "several times" in the build-up to the PCC election in May 2021.

"I'd never made any secret of it. It's not a period of my life that I was particularly proud of, clearly, but it's something one has to live with, and get on with life," he said.

"At the time of the conviction I was advised that it was not an imprisonable offence - at the level at which I had been convicted."

Mr Seed is adamant that people who were "quite senior" in the Conservative Party in Wiltshire knew of his conviction, and that he had been discussing it with them a week beforehand.

'Disgraceful behaviour'

He said at 18:00 BST on the eve of polling day, he was told he could not take up the post.

That triggered the legal action against him, which cost "many tens of thousands of pounds" to fight, Mr Seed added.

He said the Conservative Party had denied him access to candidates' insurance, which he said at one point made him consider whether he could continue with the case, and led to a feeling of "disbelief".

"Whether that was a planned response by the party to get me to try and move away, I don't know."

'Very difficult year'

With the CPS having dropped the charge against him, Mr Seed said his loyalty to the party had not changed.

"I've always had Conservative views.

"I've tirelessly campaigned and supported the party for decades, but I want to make it clear I will not let the disgraceful behaviour of a few officials change either my Conservative views or my support for the Conservative Party," he said.

"It has been a very difficult year and I need to thank my friends, supporters, legal team and political colleagues for all their help, but I particularly need to thank my family for their unswerving support," he said.

He said he would "vigorously" pursue expenses from the Crown Prosecution Service and the Conservative Party.

The Conservative Party declined to comment when approached about Mr Seed's statements.

In a previous statement it said: "Mr Seed was unable to provide enough information regarding the historic charge for us to offer definitive advice.

"He provided the information requested on polling day."

Mr Seed adamantly denies that version of events.

A fresh election was held for the Wiltshire PCC post in August 2021 and Conservative Philip Wilkinson was elected.