By-election after jailed Torridge councillor loses role

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.

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.