Russell Bowden gave his wife's address on election forms for a 'political advantage', a court hears.
The court heard records showed Mr Bowden moved out of the Birchwood property in June 2019
Prosecutor Sarah Griffin told Liverpool Crown Court he gave the wrong address so voters would see him a "local man".Opening the trial, Ms Griffin said that while "at first blush, it might not sound like the worst offence in the world", Mr Bowden had "broken the laws that underpin our very democracy and the right we all have to be confident that the politicians we choose to represent us have reached that position honestly".
She said council officials had investigated the situation after the elections and found the sole resident of the Birchwood address was Beverley Bowden, the leader's estranged wife, who was receiving a single person's council tax discount.Ms Griffin said Mr Bowden, who became council leader in the months before the elections, had spoken to police in 2020 about whether someone else had used the correct home address.
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