Police have shared an insight into an investigation which saw an ex-councillor jailed for perverting the course of justice.

Ashley Farrall, who until recently represented Macclesfield Central on East Cheshire Council, was sentenced to 12 months on Monday (September 29) after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

The court heard how the 43-year-old charged with intentional strangulation following an incident on November 14, 2024

Despite bail conditions instructing him not to contact his partner, he gave her a secret 'burner phone' to discuss the retraction statement and even travelled to her address in Wales to go through the wording of statement.

He continued to discuss the case with her with the intention of pleading guilty following the withdrawal to get a suspended prison sentence in return.

He continued to meet up with her and contact her, in breach of his bail conditions.

Cheshire Police's inspector Matt Chapman said: "Farrell manipulated his partner, saying he was sorry, and it was a mistake.

"He suggested that they could go to couples therapy and things would change.

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"However, once he got what he wanted, her retracted statement, he became bad tempered, and even gaslighted her by suggesting she was remembering the incident wrongly. He wasn't sorry and had no intention of changing.

"Farrell went to great lengths to manipulate his partner when she was at her most vulnerable so he could selfishly get what he wanted. The courts imposing a custodial sentence sends a strong message about this type of offence."

Farrall, of Ellenbrook Road on Woodhouse Park in Wythenshawe, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court earlier this week.