“John Locke, senior crown prosecutor for the CPS Wessex complex casework unit, said: “I have authorised Dorset Police to institute proceedings against Mr Spencer Flower for three offences under sections 31 and 34 of the Localism Act 2011, which imposes a duty on members of a local authority to disclose certain pecuniary interests on taking office and to refrain from participating in council business which will affect these interests unless dispensation is given.
“I carefully reviewed all the evidence provided to me by Dorset Police and was satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute Mr Flower for these three offences.
“Proceedings are now ongoing and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Mr Flower was elected leader of the county council in May 2013 after being leader of East Dorset District Council for five years.
East Devon Watch 