JAILED former county council leader Lord Hanningfield’s seat has been retained by the Conservatives after a by-election.
The 70-year-old former Stock ward councillor, whose real name is Paul White, was convicted of falsely claiming £14,000 of parliamentary expenses at Chelmsford Crown Court in May.
His council seat has been taken by fellow Tory Ian Grundy, with 1,820 votes.
The runner-up, UKIP candidate Jesse Pyrke, gained 736 votes, Labour candidate Maurice Austin won 273, Liberal Democrat Marian Elsden secured 160 and Green Party candidate Reza Hossain won 80.
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