A FORMER polling agent has admitted conspiracy to defraud Burnley’s returning officer and is facing jail.

Asif Manzur, 35, was charged in relation to the May 2010 borough elections for Burnley’s Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward.

He admitted at Burnley Crown Court that he conspired with others unknown to defraud the returning officer by dishonestly taking unissued ballot papers from Burnley Boys' Club polling station and causing or permitting fraudulently marked ballot papers to be included in the count.

Returning officer Steve Rumbelow reported concerns regarding voting patterns to police immediately after the result.

Judge Simon Newell said such offences went to the 'very root' of the electoral system and despite Manzur's previous good character, prison was likely.

He said: "Custody will be one of the sentences at the forefront of the court's mind."

Dad-of-five Manzur, of Waterbarn Street, Burnley, was an agent of defeated Liberal Democrat candidate Tahir Nawaz.

Labour’s Shah Hussain secured the seat with a 483-vote majority over Mr Nawaz, with the Conservatives’ Philip Nutter on 101.

Gordon Lishman, chair of the Burnley Liberal Democrat group, said Manzur would be kicked out of the party.

He said: “We take anything like this extremely seriously and are in favour of the law taking its course.

“We hope that anybody else will learn the necessary lessons from this case.

“I believe Manzur was briefly a member of our party but he was suspended from the membership immediately and following the plea he will be expelled.

“We will not tolerate anything along these lines.”

The defendant was given unconditional bail until July 14.