Tories denial of knowledge over candidates and trial collapse runs hollow

The Conservative Party has denied knowledge of Ross England's involvement in a rape trial collapse before he was selected as a candidate.

BBC Wales reports that ..

Mr England was accused by a Crown Court judge of deliberately sabotaging the trial in April 2018, by making claims about the victim's sexual history.
The defendant, James Hackett, was convicted following a retrial.
Sources had told BBC Wales the party knew about his involvement, but the Welsh party chairman denied this.
In the first of two statements issued on Thursday evening, Lord Davies of Gower said the party only became aware of the "full extent of the proceedings" when Hackett's appeal process ended earlier this month.
He said: "We were fully aware that Ross England was involved as a witness in a sensitive case. We are also aware of the responsibility we have as employers.
"Since the end of the Appeal Court case, we have now been made aware of the full extent of the proceedings."
In a second statement, he said he could "categorically state" that he and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns were "completely unaware of the details of the collapse of During the trial Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told Mr England:  "You have managed, singlehandedly, and I have no doubt it was deliberate on your part, to sabotage this trial.

Which as far as I can see is strange  because  during the trial the Judge admonished England woth these words

"Mr England, as far as I am concerned, this matter so far as you are concerned isn’t ended. I shall be writing personal letters to people who are politically close to you and I hope they take appropriate action. Get out of my court.

 The case had to be ended early and a retrial took place six months later, last October, when the victim had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence for a second time and the defendant, James Hackett, was found guilty and jailed for five years.

Until now the case could not be reported as Hackett was attempting to appeal against his conviction. However his request for an appeal has now not been granted.

It does appear there fore that Mr England as part of his submission in the case had stated his involvement with the Conservative Party  Mr England  and  possibly that he used to work for Mr Cairns in the Vale of Glamorgan, a Though he was not a prospective Senedd candidate then)in order to give kudos in his statment in defense of what is now a convicted rapists.

Alun Cairns  and Ross England on the latter 's selection as Senedd Candidate.

We don't know if the Judge did carry out is threat to right to those who were "politically close"  Mr England but his tone suggest he did

.I do not not normally believe that we should judge a political party solely on the actions of a slime ball like Ross England , but in this case unless it is proven that Mr Cairns and others were not fully aware  of the Judge's comments they have a lot to answer.