Anti-Royal protester admits to leaving stink bomb in ballot box

Jonathan Elliott awaiting sentence after disrupting last week's polls

A protestor is awaiting sentence after admitting putting two vials of unidentified liquid into a ballot box. Jonathan Elliott, 47, was charged after the discovery of the liquid in a box from St Andrew's Church Hall in Grimshill Road.

He appeared in Dover Magistrates' Court on Saturday and the case was adjourned for sentencing later this month.

Elliott was previously bound over by Canterbury magistrates after admitting a charge of breaching the peace after lunging at the Prince of Wales's car during the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement in March.

Jobless Elliott, of Sydney Road, was then warned he would have to pay £100 if he breached the peace again. He has previously described Prime Minister David Cameron and the royal family as "parasites".

Police were called to the election count on Friday in the Kings Hall in Herne Bay when the vials were discovered. There followed a three-hour delay while officers investigated. Officials could not identify the yellowy-orange liquid in the vials – which were wrapped in a ballot paper – and handed out gloves to the counters as a precaution.

Once police arrived on the scene they instructed returning officer and city council chief executive Colin Carmichael to advise reporters to leave the room. There was no advice for candidates, agents or official observers, or for the counters. After some reporters refused – including Times staff – officers moved the vials to the bar of the venue.

After examining the boxes and the papers in them, they were declared safe and the counting began three hours later than planned.

thisiskent 10th May 2013

Election count delayed after vials found in ballot box

Deputy returning officer Colin Carmichael with officers at the Kings Hall

POLICE were called to the election count after two vials were found in a ballot box.

The discovery, in a box from St Andrew's Church Hall in Grimshill Road, Whitstable, meant the count for Whitstable was delayed for three hours.

Officials could not identify the yellow-orange liquid in the vials – which were wrapped in a ballot paper – and handed out gloves to the counters as a precaution.

Deputy returning officer Colin Carmichael said:

"We have to be sure we are doing the right thing. We are fairly sure they are harmless but until the police arrive to confirm that we cannot verify the votes in that box."

Once police arrived on the scene they instructed Mr Carmichael to advise reporters to leave the room – but there was no advice for candidates, agents or official observers, or for counters. After some refused – including Times staff – officers moved the vials to the bar at the Kings Hall.

After examining the boxes and the papers in them, they were declared safe and the counting could begin, three hours later than planned.

Jonathan Elliott, 47, of Sydney Road, Whitstable, was charged with tampering with nomination papers after two vials of liquid were found in a ballot box in Herne Bay.

He appeared before Channel Magistrates in Dover on Saturday and the case was adjourned until later this month.

thisiskent 9th May 2013