A former Cheshire East councillor has been jailed after being convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ashley Farrall, who represented Macclesfield Central, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court today (Monday, September 29) to 12 months imprisonment.

Mr Farrall stood trial at Chester Crown Court in August facing charges of intentional strangulation and committing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

The jury returned a not guilty verdict on the charge he tried to strangle his partner during a row at their home in November last year.

But the 43-year-old was convicted of the latter charge.

The court heard that the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to what happened in the weeks following the argument.

Mr Farrall's bail conditions meant he was not allowed to contact his partner.

But jurors heard he gave her a phone on which they could communicate.

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They also met several times, including at Poynton Pool in Cheshire and near her mother's house in North Wales, where they discussed whether she would withdraw her statement.

She told the court she had wanted Mr Farrall to plead guilty and 'admit to what he had done'.

He refused and told the court he had 'always maintained he was not guilty'.

Mr Farrall resigned his seat on Cheshire East Council on Friday.