Flintshire Council and police investigate assault allegation at Welsh Assembly vote count

More details have emerged of an incident Deeside.com reported on during the Welsh Assembly election vote count at Coleg Cambria in the early hours of Friday morning.

Flintshire County Council officials confirmed on Monday they have launched an investigation along with North Wales Police into an alleged assault at the count.

The wife of Delyn UKIP Welsh Assembly candidate Nigel Williams was allegedly grabbed by my another woman during a heated exchange which left ‘hand marks’ on Susan Williams throat it’s claimed.

The fracas happened just after 3am as Mr Williams was giving a speech to the assembled audience and media following the declaration of the Delyn constituency vote.

Writing on his Facebook page ex-police officer Williams, who also stood as UKIP parliamentary candidate in Delyn last May said:

“As I was giving my speech, following the declaration of the Delyn result, Labour Party members began to hiss and boo. Out of my sight, Susan told these people to stop doing this and was instantly grabbed round the throat by a woman.”

Deeside.com tweet from 3.10am on Friday morning.

The incident was clearly audible from the press gallery above the hall where votes were being counted, as tempers flared the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council Colin Everett, in his capacity as Returning Officer for the election, was forced to quickly intervene commanding the women to stop.

Mr Williams claims his wife’s assailant was a “rosette-wearing member of the Labour Party” he also said:
“Not one person from the Labour Party has come forward to offer either an apology or even ask how my wife Susan”

There were no police officers on duty at the count in Coleg Cambria’s sports hall on Thursday evening through to Friday morning however, private security guards were on duty and interestingly during Sunday’s Police and Crime Commissioner vote count at the same venue, two police officers were seen on duty, the council said this was pre-agreed and not a reaction to Friday mornings incident.

A Flintshire County Council spokesperson added:

“The Returning Officer received a complaint during the count and it is being investigated. North Wales Police have been informed”