Mohammed Saghir, 63, of Gibbet Street, Halifax, cheated by applying for proxy votes in other people's names.

Saghir, a Conservative councillor for the St John's ward between 2000 and 2004, did not turn up for his trial and was tried in his absence. On Tuesday he was brought to court to be sentenced and explain why he did not attend the trial.

The court was told he had been at a family wedding in Pakistan and attempts to return to the UK were hampered by illness and the volcano cloud.

He denied breaching bail and presented a medical certificate showing he had been unfit to travel.

Judge James Spencer told Saghir he did not believe his excuses and gave him a 14-day sentence for breaching his bail. But he was released immediately because he has been in custody for 27 days.

The judge gave him six months, suspended, for five charges of fraud.
Judge Spencer told him the sentences were being suspended for 12 months because of his age and poor health.

He told Saghir: "You have an arrogance that leads you to think you can behave as you like and you can disregard the regulations in this country and you can cheat the electoral system for you own personal ends," said Judge Spencer.

Stuart Roberts, representing Saghir at Leeds Crown Court, said he had booked a plane to return from Pakistan in time for his trial.

He said he had collapsed in Kashmir and needed medical treatment. But Judge Spencer said: "It seems to me the excuse of having a collapse just isn't true otherwise it would be reported on the medical certificate."

Saghir went to a family wedding and his return was further delayed because he could not get a flight because of the hold-ups caused by the Icelandic ash cloud.

He booked the first available flight to the UK and landed on June 18.
Mr Roberts said before he could hand himself in he was knocked down crossing the road.

He was arrested on July 1.

A jury took just three hours to find him guilty of applying for proxy votes as another person.

He had denied forging the votes in the May 2008 local elections when his son, Shakar, was standing as an independent.

Saghir was arrested the night before polling after filling out the forms applying for votes in other people's names.

The court was told each of the other voters had confirmed they had not filled in the forms.

At the trial, a statement read to the court said Saghir thought the forms had been filled in by opponents trying to discredit him,
It is the second time he has been branded arrogant.

In 2005, after being found guilty of representing immigrants when not qualified, Bradford Judge Stephen Guillick told him he was arrogant.
"In each and every case you were telling a downright lie."