The man who followed a trail of evidence through a complex and sensitive case, that was to cost taxpayers almost £1 million, to unravel the deceit of Mohammed Choudhary, Peterborough's first Asian mayor, was commended by a judge yesterday for conducting a "thorough and impartial" investigation.

Today, Detective Inspector Ian Tandy said: "A custodial sentence acts as a deterrent and hopefully it will make people think twice. We don't want this to happen again in Peterborough.

"The cost was over-excessive, but I think the case was important for democracy."

Special Report: Local election vote riggers jailed
The full story: Three former city Labour party members found guilty of vote rigging have been jailed.
------------------------

As for Choudhary, his fall from grace is complete and he will have plenty of time in his cell to consider just how much being blinded by political ambition cost him when he was prepared to do anything to ensure his re-election to the city council in 2004.

While he once stood proudly wearing the chains of office, his reputation now lies in tatters. His shame was marked by the handcuffs around his wrists as he was led down to the cells at King's Lynn Crown Court yesterday, watched by 40 friends and family packed into the public gallery.

The 49-year-old, of Cobden Street, Peterborough, was also barred from standing for public office for five years and ordered to pay £20,000 towards his costs.

His two co-defendants in the dock stared ahead impassively as Judge Alan Hitching also sentenced them to prison terms.

Former Labour party official Tariq Mahmood, who was described as "the spider at the centre of the web", was jailed for 15 months and must pay £15,000 costs, while party candidate Maqbool Hussein, who the judge said was the "least politically sophisticated" of the three, was given three months. They will also be barred from holding public office for five years.

The court heard how the trio "hijacked" postal and proxy vote application forms in the run-up to the Central ward elections, and filled some of them in themselves.

The votes were sent to a number of "away" addresses, where the ballot papers would be filled in – without the knowledge of the people who should have had them.

However, despite their efforts, the Labour candidates were all beaten by Conservatives.

Their downfall came after a series of blunders came to light, including Choudhary Tippex-ing out details on an application form. The defendants faced a total of 34 counts and were eventually convicted of 22.

Mahmood was found guilty of 14 counts of forgery, while his co-defendants were found guilty of four counts each.