A former Tory MP who defected to UKIP lied to voters and forged signatures on ballot papers in a bid to help colleagues fight local council elections, a court heard.

Dr Bob Spink, 69, allegedly took a 'casual and misleading approach' while canvassing on doorsteps ahead of the polls last May.

Voters reported seeing 'a very large man', UKIP election agent James Parkin, 38, accompanying Spink collecting signatures, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Spink was elected as the Conservative MP for Castle Point, near Basildon, Essex, between 1992 and 1997, winning the seat a second time in the 2001 election.

He became UKIP's first MP in April 2008 after defecting from the Conservatives but redesignated himself an independent later that year and losing the seat in 2010.

The politician lost out in the Essex Police and Crime Commissioner elections to Tory candidate Roger Hirst.

Parkin was also beaten in the race for Castle Point's Cedar Hall ward seat to Tory candidate Liz Wass.

'A part of this trial will look at the canvassing methods employed by Dr Spink on the doorstep,' said prosecutor Tom Nicholson.

'Did he, we say, disarm voters by talk of Europe, police, of his PCC nomination, the need to obtain 100 signatures, and their desire for more police on the streets?

'Did he properly inform them which party he was actually representing?

'Did he use what we would say a casual and misleading approach on the doorstep to obtain signatures?'

None of the UKIP candidates were ultimately elected, many finishing a close second and there is no suggestion that there was anything improper with the 100 signatures obtained by Spink enabling him to stand as a candidate in the PCC election.

Spink denies five counts of submitting false signatures on nomination papers, on or before 5 April 2016, while Parkin denies six like charges.

The accusations relate to the local election for Castle Point Borough Council in south Essex in 2016.

Prosecutor Tom Nicholson said: 'In short, it is alleged that Dr Spink and Mr Parkin were involved in submitting a number of nomination forms, bearing signatures that had been obtained falsely.

'So, you are looking at 10 signatures from individuals living in the area.

'We say there was an element of misleading individuals, or not explaining properly to the point of misleading what the signature was for.

'And, in one case, by changing the printed name of the person who signed the form.'

Jurors heard Castle Point was one of 124 local councils holding elections on 5 May last year and had a total of 14 wards voting.

In order to stand, a prospective candidate must secure 10 signatures from members of the public living in the sought ward.

The first of those is called a 'proposer', the second a 'seconder' and the remaining eight known as 'assenters'.

On the same day, there was a vote for the post of Police & Crime Commissioner, requiring 100 signatures from those living in the relevant county to stand.

Parkin was employed as an election agent 'responsible for the proper management of an election campaign, in particular for its various documentation and for its financial management'.

'One important element of this role is that the election agent is given access to a database containing the names and addresses taken from the electoral register of those who live in the various wards, and are thus in a position to nominate each particular candidate for that ward,' said Mr Nicholson.

'Any signature from an elector in a different ward would not count, and might leave a prospective candidate unable to stand if they failed to get signatures from those within the ward.'

Police began investigating the Castle Point Borough Council elections ahead of polling day in 2016.

A man named Robert Duke discovered his name had been added to a nomination form for a UKIP candidate, James' sister-in-law, to his 'complete surprise'.

'In fact, this signature was a forgery, since Mr Duke had never signed the form,' said Mr Nicholson.

'He was in fact a Conservative and never would have had anything to do with UKIP.'

As a result, the forgery was reported to police last April and enquiries revealed Parkin was involved in the form's completion.

Officers then made calls to the 128 signatories relating to the other 13 wards with UKIP candidates.

The appeal garnered 96 responses alleging two further forgeries and 26 others claiming they had been misled as to the nature of the document they were signing.

Jurors heard some 'signed this form without any proper understanding of what it was for, and certainly without any intention of nominating a UKIP candidate to stand for election'.

Typically forms would be handed over blank without the name of the candidate on it.

Mr Nicholson said the defendants may fairly point out that it was obvious 'this was a nomination form and that UKIP were referred to'.

'What we suggest is it is plain that people do not always read what they are asked to sign when canvassed on their doorstep, and particularly when someone they know has given them a spiel or patter about something quite different,' he added.

'This is particularly the case when the signatories may be of some age, and perhaps not the type to read such a form with scrupulous care.'

Spink, of Downer Road, Benfeet, Essex, denies five counts of causing or permitting a false signature to be included in a nomination form.

Parkin, of Castle View Road, Canvey, denies six like charges.

The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues tomorrow.