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.
Madeleine Raine
Mads is a 23-year-old History graduate from Newcastle University. She is passionate about current affairs and British news, with a keen interest in investigative features. Aside from this, she is an avid reader, photographer, and yogi.