A former Ukip MP accused of misleading elderly constituents into signing electoral forms has said he always made it clear what the documents were.

Dr Bob Spink, who served as Tory MP for Castle Point for five years before defecting to the pro-Brexit party in 2008, is charged with submitting false signatures on nomination papers.

The 69-year-old allegedly tricked “elderly and infirm” voters into signing the forms in April 2016, without making it clear what the documents were or which party he represented. He and 38-year-old James Parkin, his election agent at the time, are both accused of misleading residents in the constituency about the purpose of the signatures.

People signed the forms believing they were petitions, having no idea they would be supporting the Ukip candidate in local elections, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Spink told the jury yesterday that he did explain to residents what they were signing and which party he was with. He added that his main aim was to collect 100 signatures in his bid to become the local Police and Crime Commissioner.

He said he told one voter about his campaign to become Commissioner and “when I had his support I asked him if he would sign for the local government candidate”.

Spink said he agreed to collect signatures in support of the local Ukip candidate while canvassing for his own campaign, which was “quite normal” practice.

He said: “I was going round and James (Parkin) was with me and he said in some of those wards we need signatures for the local candidate as well. So he said while you’re there can you pick up signatures from our local supporters.”

Spink, from Benfleet, denies five counts of causing or permitting a false signature to be included on a nomination form. Parkin, of Canvey, denies six counts of the same offence. Jurors have been told Parkin also pleaded guilty to two similar charges.