A council leader lied about his home address on nomination forms to gain a "political advantage", a court heard.
Russell Bowden, the Labour leader of Warrington Borough Council, is accused of giving a false statement in nomination papers ahead of the 2021 local elections by giving the home address of his estranged wife.
Opening the 53-year-old's trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, Sarah Griffin, prosecuting, said: "Even though, at first blush, it might not sound like the worst offence in the world, the Crown say that he has broken the laws that underpin our very democracy and the right we all have to be confident that the politicians we choose to represent us have reached that position honestly."
