Seven in court over voting fraud

Seven men, including a former Conservative party candidate, have appeared in court in Bradford charged with postal voting fraud.

Jamshed Khan, 53, Reis Khan, 38, Tahir Mahmood, 40, Mohammed Rafiq, 67, Alyas Khan, 49 and Mohammed Sultan, 49, from Bradford, appeared before magistrates.

A seventh man, Haroon Rashid, 37, from Buckinghamshire, was absent from court.

All are charged with conspiracy to defraud Bradford's returning officer during the 2005 General Election.

Mr Rashid stood as the unsuccessful Conservative candidate for Bradford West in the 2005 election.

The men spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth during the brief hearing on Wednesday.

The case was adjourned until 28 November when the men will appear at Bradford Crown Court.