A former Tory MP accused of lying to voters and forging signatures to boost chances of local election victories told police he was "hurt" by the "absolutely unbelievable" claims, a court heard.

Dr Bob Spink, 69, is said to have given predominantly elderly residents familiar with him from past votes a "spiel or patter" whilst canvassing on doorsteps.

Spink was elected as the Conservative MP for Castle Point, near Basildon in 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.

Many subsequently reported seeing "a very large man", UKIP election agent James Parkin, 38, accompanying him collecting signatures.

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

Spink "disarmed" voters by not properly informing them of the party he was representing, it is claimed.

Ultimately, none of the UKIP candidates was in fact elected, many finishing a close second.

There is no suggestion that there was anything improper with the 100 signatures obtained by Spink enabled 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.

Parkin, also 38, denies six counts of the same charge.

Jurors were taken through both men's interviews they gave to officers under caution on 18 and 19 July last year at Chelmsford Police Station.

Parkin was interviewed on July 18 and Spink was quizzed the day after and gave his account in an interview lasting one hour and nine minutes.

At the beginning of the recording, he said: "I have nothing to hide - I do not understand why I am here really."

Spink explained his political history, telling officers that his career spanned more than three decades.

When asked if he knew why he was being interviewed under caution, he said he spoke to Parkin the day before.

"He told me you were going to ask me some questions about candidates and people not knowing what they were signing for and I find that absolutely unbelievable," he said.

Spink explained that he would often spend between two and 10 minutes on people's doorsteps and made sure to always get rid of leaflets.

"That is the right way of doing things," he said. "I need people to know I have been knocking on their door."

He said he did not principally go canvassing with Parkin and went out with "lots of people, James Parkin obviously, but I cannot remember any names."

"I generally tend to go out with someone as I have to protect myself from political mischief - but I have been out alone."

He said he felt "hurt" by the accusations of wrongdoing and especially since he was going for a role of crime commissioner it would be wrong to 'stick his neck out'.

"I have never had any accusations for any mischief at all," he said. "Particularly going for a Police and Crime Commissioner you would not be sticking your neck out."

He said there was "no profit" to doing what he was he is accused of, adding:"'It is not something that would really occur to me - it hurt, especially as I have always served the public."

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

Jurors heard that, in essence, both men were involved in submitting a number of nomination forms bearing signatures that had been obtained falsely.

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, the court heard 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'.

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".

But the signature was a forgery because he was a Tory 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.

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 identical charges.

The trial continues.