Bushey property developer charged over £39,000 in donations

Property developer Howard Grossman and his co-defendant, former Tory MP David Mackintosh, each face two allegations of failing to provide information in relation to donations to a registered political party, Northampton South Conservative Association (NSCA).

David Mackintosh, who is also former leader of the now defunct Northampton Borough Council, appeared at Northampton Crown Court last Friday (January 27), charged with offences allegedly committed under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums (PERA) Act.

David Mackintosh, the former Conservative MP and ex leader of Northampton Borough Council, arriving at a previous court hearing. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA)

Grossman, 61, of Caldecote Gardens, did not appear but was represented in court by his barrister Chantel Gaber.

Both men are on bail.

The offences are said to have taken place in 2014, months after Mackintosh was selected to fight the constituency of Northampton South at the end of the previous year and relate to nine donations totalling £39,000.

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Mackintosh, 43, was first elected as Northampton South MP in 2015, before later announcing he would not contest his seat in the June 2017 General Election.

The charges can only recently be reported after restrictions were lifted on the case.

Mackintosh and Grossman were charged at the end of last year following an investigation by Northamptonshire Police, which was triggered after the disappearance of the £10.25 million loan made in 2014, from the borough council to Northampton Town Football Club for a stadium redevelopment project.

Both deny any wrongdoing and are set to stand trial on October 23, alongside three other people charged in connection with the investigation.

Tony Marshall/PA (Image: Tony Marshall/PA)

Gary Platt, 66, of West Drive in Harrow, Nutan Bhimjiyani, 62, and her husband Sharad Bhimjiyani, 67, both of Headstone Lane in Harrow, all London, have also been charged with a single like offence.

Platt has denied a charge of failing to provide information about a political donation to the Conservative association in April, 2014.

Mr Bhimjiyani and Mrs Bhimjiyani are also alleged to have failed to provide information about a donation made to NSCA in June, 2014.