Three found guilty of 2010 election fraud

Charles Lewin, Kerry Rothwell and Gail Corrin have been found guilty in the Douglas East by-election trial, which concluded this afternoon (Tuesday).

Lewin was convicted of charges of conspiracy to affect legal purpose by improper means and conspiracy to steal and forge.

Twenty-five-year-old Rothwell of Onchan and Corrin, 40, of Douglas were convicted of one charge each of conspiracy to affect legal purpose by improper means.

Lewin had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

It regards the election in May 2010 and the candidacy of celebrity chef Kevin Woodford.

It involved a highly organised system, which was designed to win proxy votes from householders in Douglas East, and cast these for Woodford.

The current Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw eventually won the election.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the police said the scandal had ‘struck at the very heart of democracy’.

Lewin, Rothwell and Corrin are yet to be sentenced and police are not commenting further at this time.

However, they have thanked the 91 witnesses who attended court and gave evidence in person.