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'I MADE A FOOLISH MISTAKE'

Ukip leader hopeful Steven Woolfe ‘forgot’ to declare drink-drive conviction during Police Crime Commissioner bid

He was fined £350 and disqualified for nine months after being caught drunk in charge of a scooter in 2002

UKIP leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe has admitted failing to declare a drink-driving conviction when he stood for an important police and crime commissioner post.

The MEP, the front-runner in the race to succeed Nigel Farage, said he "forgot about the conviction" when he stood in the Greater Manchester PCC election in 2012.

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Woolfe admitted he was fined £350 and disqualified from driving for nine monthsCredit: PA:Press Association

PCC candidates must declare convictions for which they could have received a prison sentence.

It is also a criminal offence to make a false statement on nomination papers, the Electoral Commission website says.

Woolfe told Huffington Post he was fined £350 and disqualified from driving for nine months after being caught drunk in charge of a scooter in 2002.

"I made a foolish mistake 14 years ago which I regret. As the years went on I forgot about the conviction as I got on with my life," he said.

"The conviction was a spent conviction in November 2012 and not in my mind when I stood for police and crime commissioner in Greater Manchester.

"It was also a spent conviction when I stood for the European elections in 2014 and general election in 2015."

It comes after Mr Woolfe blamed a technical blunder for missing Ukip's leadership nominations deadline, leaving his bid in the hands of party officials.


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