Barrie Grunewald was due to face trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, charged with forgery involving an expense form, but the judge was told the prosecution was offering no evidence.

The court heard that 30-year-old Grunewald, of Poplar Road, Burnage, Manchester, who was not present, acted as election agent for all the Labour candidates in the May elections 2006 in St Helens.

Police launched an investigation into the expenses forms of a host of Labour candidates during the 2006 local elections following allegations by the local branch of the Community Action Party of wrongdoing.

A council official noted a signature for one of the other Labour candidates, Stuart Hughes, had been forged on an expenses form and Mr Grunewald was subsequently charged with forgery.

The form related to expenses Hughes incurred during campaigning to become a Newton ward councillor in St Helens, Merseyside, where Mr Woodward, 49, became MP in 2001 after leaving the Conservatives.
Grunewald has worked at Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Woodward's St Helens office since 2007.

Elizabeth Reid, prosecuting, said that following the submission of a defence statement, Mr Hughes was re-interviewed and admitted aiding and abetting the forgery.

The two men had agreed that the form needed to be signed but Mr Hughes was unable to get to the location to sign it and he agreed that Grunewald should forge his signature without informing the Returning Officer.

Miss Reid said that consequently the prosecution reviewed the case and on February 13 Mr Hughes was cautioned for aiding and abetting.

She said:"The prosecution decided in those circumstances Mr Grunewald should be offered a caution at that stage in the proceedings.

''Mr Hughes couldn't get to sign the form and he says Mr Grunewald suggested he could sign it himself and he agreed to that suggestion.

''The form was submitted with the express permission of Mr Hughes.''

She added: ''The prosecution would have proceeded with the trial if Mr Grunewald hadn't accepted the caution.''

Grunewald, who had pleaded not guilty to the offence when he appeared in court in December, accepted the caution.

Judge Ian Trigger formally recorded a not guilty verdict on Grunewald.