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Conservative election candidate Nick Housden (right) pictured with PM Boris Johnson and Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie during a visit last month. Picture from Twitter
A Conservative candidate standing in both the district and county elections has responded to revelations that he has a criminal conviction for blackmail.
Nick Housden - who is hoping to represent the Stonehouse ward on both Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council - received a two year suspended prison sentence in 2013.
Mr Housden, who was 22 at the time, admitted a charge of demanding £2,000 with menace from a businessman in 2011.
The conviction came to light after a cutting from Private Eye highlighting the case was circulated on social media last week.