A Tory election agent has been found guilty of deliberately misleading Hackney electors during the local government elections in 2018.
Voters from a Labour stronghold borough were duped into signing nomination papers for Conservative candidates.
Diana Dianescu was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on October 16 of 16 offences contrary to Section 65 of the Representation of People Act 1983 – causing or permitting a false signature to be included on a nomination form.
Dianescu was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, told to complete 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay £2,000 contribution to court costs and a statutory court surcharge.
The investigation was carried out by the Metropolitan Police’s Special Enquiry Team and involved 32 prosecution witnesses. The trial lasted five weeks.
The party agent was employed by Conservative Campaign Headquarters, which is the main office of the British Conservative Party.
Dianescu was also Borough Campaign Manager and undertook the title of election agent for 29 Conservative Party candidates in the South Hackney Constituency.
This was during the run up to the London local government elections in May 2018.
DC Jim Morrisson of the MPS Special Enquiry Team said: “Diana Dianescu deliberately misled the electors of Hackney in the run up to the local elections in May 2018.
“The Metropolitan Police is committed to maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. I would like to thank people living and working in Hackney who came forward and provided evidence at the trail.”
Dianescu tricked electors in the borough of Hackney whilst canvassing.
She provided false information as to what political party she was canvassing for and told local electors that she as affiliated with left wing groups such as Labour Party and Green Party, as well as Hackney Council.
She then submitted a number of candidate nomination forms to the Returning Officer.
These contained names and signatures of electors who had not truly approved to the candidates being nominated.
