Reform UK candidate's misconduct as a magistrate ruling surfaces ahead of by-election

A Reform UK by-election candidate was found to have committed misconduct in her role as a magistrate, it has emerged.

Sarah Pochin, who is standing in Runcorn and Helsby, used her status as a magistrate to try to influence her colleagues' political views in 2018. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) also found she breached confidentiality by publicising the complaint made against her.

Ms Pochin, who served as a magistrate in Cheshire for 20 years, is the favourite to win the seat for Nigel Farage's party on May 1. The that the JCIO misconduct finding was made on July 3, 2018.

A spokesperson said at the time: “The Lord Chancellor and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice have made a finding of misconduct against Ms Sarah Pochin, a magistrate assigned to the Cheshire area for using her status as a magistrate to influence the views of her colleagues in a political context.

“In addition, she breached confidentiality by publicising the complaint made against her. The Lord Chancellor and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb considered that Ms Pochin’s behaviour fell below the standards expected of a magistrate and have issued her with formal advice.”

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In response, a Reform UK spokesperson said: “This matter had nothing to do with Sarah Pochin’s conduct as Presiding Justice in Court. The comment was made in a private meeting and was used by the as a politically motivated attack. No further action was taken."

And the party continued: “Sarah went on to serve a further seven years with great distinction as a magistrate in the Chester and Crewe courts. In March this year she honourably resigned as a Presiding Justice to campaign in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election and was thanked for her past service to the Magistracy. This speaks for itself.”

It is understood that the publication period for “formal advice” is two years, after which time a statement is removed from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office website.

Ms Pochin is a former Cheshire East Councillor and was first elected as a Conservative before she was kicked out of the party after a row about her nomination to be mayor of the borough. She later joined the authority's Independent group, but was suspended for re-joining the national Conservative Party so that she could vote in the Tory leadership election.

The byelection was called after Labour's Mike Amesbury was given a suspended sentence for assaulting a constituent on a night out in Frodsham last year.

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