Gavin in doghouse over polling card
11:05am Wednesday 30th April 2008
Comments (24)
A MAN who registered his dog to vote in tomorrow's local elections could face jail or a £5,000 fine.
Gavin Huckvale, from Toothill, has had to tuck his tail between his legs and write a grovelling apology to Swindon Council's director of law and democratic services, Stephen Taylor.
If the letter does not arrive today Gavin could be prosecuted for the offence of supplying false electoral information.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 51 weeks' imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000.
Gavin, 29, told the Adver earlier this month that his dog, Bobby, had been sent a polling card and hinted that it would be interesting to see how far he could take it.
Asked at the time whether he had put Bobby's name on the electoral roll as a joke Gavin said he hadn't.
But after a visit by the police, prompted by Swindon Council, Gavin has now admitted that it is definitely his handwriting on the list.
He said: "I just don't have any idea how I've done this. I must be cracking up.
"I must have put it down completely unconsciously - it certainly wasn't a practical joke.
"I don't know how to explain it. I know it sounds crazy but it really was a mistake.
"If I'd known that it was me who had put the dog's name down I wouldn't have gone to the press and made all that fuss."
Mr Taylor said: "Because of Mr Huckvale's statement in the Adver last Saturday to the effect that he didn't put his dog's name on the form and that he planned to take the dog to the polling station to vote, I referred the matter to the police.
"False information was given by Mr Huckvale as the form clearly showed that Mr Huckvale did write the dog's name on it.
"I was concerned that him taking the dog to a polling station to vote would make the situation worse, put the polling station staff in a difficult position, and could inconvenience voters.
"Also, the council was clearly being accused of incompetence and an electoral error when this was not the case.
"I was asked by the police whether I would accept a written apology from Mr Huckvale. I confirmed that I would, provided that it was sent immediately and publicised in the same manner as the original article, with the Advertiser also being sent a copy of the letter.
"In this way, the integrity of the electoral system would be protected with the residents of Swindon being assured that deliberately giving false electoral information is a serious matter and will be treated as such."
Gavin said: "I've sent a letter to Mr Taylor saying that I'm sorry and I've sent the polling card back as well, so Bobby definitely won't be voting.
"He didn't like the look of the candidates anyway."
Your Say YourThis Is Wiltshire
Shimmie, Wootton Bassett says...
11:17am Wed 30 Apr 08
"I just don't have any idea how I've done this..."
Yeah, right!
mr big, Swindon says...
11:24am Wed 30 Apr 08
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:34am Wed 30 Apr 08
Donkey, Swindon says...
12:03pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Making a mockery of filling out his entry into the electoral records has to be seen for what it is. He would have read the consequences, he is clearly not a fool, entirely!
Supposing a person inserted ficticious names on their application to vote, they would surely be come down upon with the full force of the law.
This person is making fools out of everyone, if he thinks we buy his lame and very stupid excuse!
Taxpower, Swinetown says...
12:11pm Wed 30 Apr 08
PaulD, says...
12:15pm Wed 30 Apr 08
BWB, SWINDON says...
12:20pm Wed 30 Apr 08
emigrated abroad.
Their voting cards have still been delivered to the house
where new owners now live. What Is to stop these votes being used
sashstaff, Swindon says...
12:26pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Al Smith, Swindon, UK says...
12:39pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Sadly the UK system is based on old fashioned concepts such as trust and honesty.
steve-o, Swindon says...
12:45pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Shimmie wrote:Every thing said isso true, take away his right, was he looking for sympathy
What a muppet. "I just don't have any idea how I've done this..." Yeah, right!
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
12:46pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Donkey wrote:Unless you live in Zimbabwe, where 3,000 registered voters lived in the same 10m x 10m patch of land.
Sadly, this character deserves all he gets, and I hope he is made an example of. Making a mockery of filling out his entry into the electoral records has to be seen for what it is. He would have read the consequences, he is clearly not a fool, entirely! Supposing a person inserted ficticious names on their application to vote, they would surely be come down upon with the full force of the law. This person is making fools out of everyone, if he thinks we buy his lame and very stupid excuse!
paul_swindon, says...
1:13pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Electoral fraud is a serious issue and idiots don't deserve sympathy.
Terence, Swindon says...
1:39pm Wed 30 Apr 08
malkym, says...
1:56pm Wed 30 Apr 08
DarkAuror wrote:Definitely a 24 carat CASABLANCA!!
One word. Muppet!
yeti, swindon says...
3:17pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Gene Hunt, swindon says...
4:08pm Wed 30 Apr 08
cookie, swindon says...
4:42pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Stop wasting tax payers money, a joke gone wrong, nobody hurt probably a vote abstainer anyway. A simple letter of comdemnation would have surficed!
Oh, and Bobby for Prime minister!!
No Angel, Swindon says...
6:05pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Mr Taylor said: "Because of Mr Huckvale's statement in the Adver last Saturday to the effect that he didn't put his dog's name on the form and that he planned to take the dog to the polling station to vote, I referred the matter to the police.
"False information was given by Mr Huckvale as the form clearly showed that Mr Huckvale did write the dog's name on it.
"I was concerned that him taking the dog to a polling station to vote would make the situation worse, put the polling station staff in a difficult position, and could inconvenience voters.
"Also, the council was clearly being accused of incompetence and an electoral error when this was not the case.
Well Done Stephen. Alan and your electoral team have a hard enough job of things without idiots like this trying to make the Electoral Services department look incompetent. Personally I think he should have been made an example of and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
No Angel, Swindon says...
6:05pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Mr Taylor said: "Because of Mr Huckvale's statement in the Adver last Saturday to the effect that he didn't put his dog's name on the form and that he planned to take the dog to the polling station to vote, I referred the matter to the police.
"False information was given by Mr Huckvale as the form clearly showed that Mr Huckvale did write the dog's name on it.
"I was concerned that him taking the dog to a polling station to vote would make the situation worse, put the polling station staff in a difficult position, and could inconvenience voters.
"Also, the council was clearly being accused of incompetence and an electoral error when this was not the case.
Well Done Stephen. Alan and your electoral team have a hard enough job of things without idiots like this trying to make the Electoral Services department look incompetent. Personally I think he should have been made an example of and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
HoneyPie, The Shire says...
6:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08
john c, swindon says...
11:12pm Wed 30 Apr 08
he should have been made an example of and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Group.
No Angel, Swindon says...
2:03pm Thu 1 May 08
Ankh, Morpork says...
2:23pm Thu 1 May 08
Bobby with owner Gavin Huckvale
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DarkAuror, Swindon says...
11:14am Wed 30 Apr 08