Magistrate slashes Gormans' charge list

Magistrate slashes Gormans' charge list

Sixty-six charges against the Tory MP for Billericay, Theresa Gorman, and her husband, Jim, were cut to just one each by a magistrate at Grays, Essex.

The magistrate ordered the list of planning contravention summonses to be slashed after hearing the couple might have to pay pounds 1.32m if they were convicted and fined the maximum of pounds 20,000 for each alleged offence. Each charge also carried a penalty of six months jail.

Labour-led Thurrock council has accused them of making changes to their Grade 2 listed home, Old Hall Farm at Orsett, Essex, without planning permission, and of ignoring warnings to stop.