A High Wycombe man who won a Bucks County Council by-election but was charged with electoral fraud has pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

Israr Rashid, 40, of Hobart Close, was a Wycombe Labour candidate but was suspended from the party days before the Totteridge and Bowerdean by-election – which he won with 40.8 per cent of the vote.

He was later charged with conspiracy to defraud the electoral services manager at Wycombe District Council by dishonestly causing or permitting to be submitted to the officer postal voting statements which contained false particulars, and two counts of committing, aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring in the commission of voting by post as some other person.

The alleged crimes all happened between January 2, 2019, and February 8, 2019, in relation to the Totteridge and Bowerdean by-election which happened on February 7, 2019.

In an Aylesbury Crown Court plea and trial preparation hearing held via Skype this morning (April 28) - in which Mr Rashid was not present but was represented by barrister Rhys Rosser - not guilty pleas were entered for all three charges.

Mr Rosser said his client denies submitting the forms he is accused of submitting.

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Rashid is not allowed to contact five specific people, who may be called as witnesses, or go within 100 feet of Cambridge Crescent in High Wycombe, or go to a specific address in Adelaide Road in High Wycombe – to prevent “interference” with witnesses.

Because not guilty pleas have been entered, a trial, which is expected to last four to five days, will go ahead although this date has not yet been fixed.

Mr Rosser said there is “substantial” evidence that will need to be gone through and interpreters will be needed for some of the witnesses.

Judge Francis Sheridan, who presided over the plea and trial preparation hearing, said it was in the public interest that the trial is arranged “as promptly as we can”.

He added: “If [Mr Rashid] does not turn up for trial, it will be held in his absence.”