Tory cleared of Ukip fight funds fiddle

Katie has 14 days to pay £1.1k fine for driving while banned

WON SEAT MP Mackinlay A TORY MP has been cleared of fiddling election expenses in a successful bid to defeat Nigel Farage.

Craig Mackinlay, 52, had been accused of failing to declare more than £60,000 spent on staffing, hotels and advertising.

He narrowly beat the ex-Ukip leader to win South Thanet in 2015.

Tory official Marion Little, convicted of two charges, got a nine month suspended jail term.

Mr Justice Edis, sitting at Southwark crown court, told Little, of Ware, Herts, she had “acted dishonestly” by preparing inaccurate returns.

A Daily Mirror probe raised concerns over campaigns in two dozen marginal constituencies won or held by Tory MPs. Flanked by her team SERENA STEWART MAGISTRATES’ CHAIR since February 9. Paul Macaulay, defending, said she wrongly believed the ban had been dated earlier and it had ended.

He conceded she had never contacted the DVLA to reinstate her licence, saying she was “not the best” at paperwork.

Mr Macaulay said a further ban would cause “a lot of hardship” because of her son’s medical appointments and visits to her terminally ill mum.

Chairman Serena Stewart said they had kept the ban to “the minimum”.

She said: “Our advice is not to drive until you have your licence in your hand.” Asked if she could pay before leaving court, she said: “No, I’m not.” She must settle the £1,295 bill including costs within 14 days.

Last year, Price was granted time by a judge to negotiate a deal with HMRC. The mother-of-five was once estimated to be worth around £40million.

She is in court next month after denying drink-driving while in a pink Range Rover.

Our advice is not to drive until licence is in your hand