FORMER Waltham Forest Cllr Miranda Grell has lost her appeal against her conviction and fine for running a smear campaign against an election rival.
Grell mounted the appeal at Snaresbrook Crown Court, insisting she had not called then Cllr Barry Smith a paedophile.
Grell, 29, a Labour member, was fined £1,000 when she was convicted at Waltham Forest Magiustrates Court of falsely making the claim about Liberal Democrat Barry Smith in May last year.
She was also suspended from the council until her appeal was held and will lose her seat now, causing a by-election.
Grell, of Lyttleton Road, Leyton, was convicted under the Representation of the People Act on two counts of making false statements about another candidate to gain electoral advantage.
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