Hartlepool’s Independent candidate for the upcoming by-election, Christopher Killick, has been revealed as a convicted sex offender on the official register.

Christopher Killick, 41, was convicted of voyeurism last year and is currently running in Hartlepool’s by-election, due to take place on May 6.

He was found guilty of filming a naked and unconscious woman in a hotel room five years ago, with his victim only getting justice last year.

Mr. Killick, who was born and bred in London, filmed a 62-second clip of his victim in a hotel room in Bethnal Green, London, in 2015.

The Crown Prosecution Service initially ruled his actions as legal but overturned this last year.

The former shop assistant received a 30-month community order and was fined £2,000.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years and was asked to pay £5,000 to his victim for compensation.

“certain individuals are barred from candidacy”

Mr. Killick did not declare his conviction on electoral forms, claiming: “I decided not to mention it to them to make it simpler or easier for me.”

According to the Electorial Commission, certain individuals are barred from candidacy:

  • Anyone convicted of a crime who served at least one year in jail
  • Anyone bankrupt or facing bankruptcy charges
  • Anyone convicted of illegal electoral practice in the past three years or corrupt electoral practice in the past five years

“I’ve always maintained that it was a big mistake and I want to say I’m sorry,” said Mr. Killick.

“Although I didn’t talk about the offence on my election leaflet, I’m not trying to hide what happened.

“I’m here, I’ve been sentenced in court, I’m not barred.”

He continued: “If I’d been to prison then I wouldn’t have been able to stand.”

He considered waiting until September 2025 when he would no longer be on the sex offender’s list to campaign for MP.

“Perhaps I would have gotten a better response. But I don’t know where I’d be in four and a half years, so I thought I might as well do it now.”

Madeleine Raine

Featured image courtesy of Markus Spiske on Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.

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