A PENSIONER cleared of racially abusing a traffic warden is standing as a British National Party candidate in tomorrow's elections, the Echo can reveal.

Christopher Stone told the Echo after the verdict that he was not a racist after being acquitted of abusing the female parking attendant outside a car boot sale in Marsh Barton.

The 67-year-old, who is the only BNP candidate standing in Exeter, was tried at the city's Crown Court. Yesterday a jury of five men and seven women found Mr Stone not guilty of the offence.

Mr Stone, of Chestnut Avenue, Wonford, who is standing for the seat in Priory ward, faced a charge of causing Sarah Marillier-Brown harassment, alarm or distress, with intent, that was racially aggravated.

He was accused of shouting at the traffic warden and launching a tirade of racist abuse after approaching her while she ticketed a row of vehicles parked on a single yellow line, in Matford Park Road.

He was also alleged by a witness to have said "I suppose you Muslims have your own parking space" and that she should "go back to your own country", the court was told.

The incident was alleged to have happened last October.

During her evidence, Mrs Marillier-Brown said she feared Mr Stone was going to hit her and said that he took her photograph.

She told the court she felt intimidated and scared.

Mr Stone accepted he spoke to her about the ticketing of cars but denied the allegations he had been abusive and threatening towards her.

During his evidence, Mr Stone said he had not been ticketed himself but was complaining because an elderly woman who had been given a ticket could not afford to pay it and that it was poorly signed.

It was suggested in court a 'blind eye' had been turned to parking there in the past and that people were complaining about being ticketed on a Sunday.

He also said he was going to have her photo published in the Echo, the court was told.

Mr Stone gave evidence he was expressing his opinion and said at the time: "If you were black, pink, Indian, or orange or Pakistani, you would not get these tickets, it's because you are white, that's a fact."

He said another man was remonstrating and shouting at her before he got there.

Mr Stone claimed the traffic department in Exeter operated a ticketing system which discriminated against white people, which Recorder Palmer QC suggested was "an extraordinary view".

After the verdict, Mr Stone told the Echo he was "greatly relieved", before thanking the jury and claiming justice had been served. He said the BNP was "nothing to do with racism."

Mr Stone, a retired truck driver, said he had decided to stand for the party to represent causes and "ordinary people being trodden on".

He said he did not believe the case would affect his chances in tomorrow's council election.

"I am very, very confident," said Mr Stone.

"I think it will improve my chances.

"Why I am standing has nothing to do with racism at all.

"I have worked with coloured people, black people. I had a coloured girlfriend years ago.

"I am not a racist. I want to stand up for the ordinary people in the street. People are so afraid to speak up.

"British people are getting pushed to the back of the queue in favour of foreign people who come to this country."

He added: "The BNP is not a racist party and we are not thugs."