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.