THE mystery campaigner who illegally distributed leaflets denouncing the Conservative party in the run up to the Devon County Council elections has been caught.

And now police are warning to leave the campaigning to the parties and check before distributing anything.

Ivybridge Inspector Neil Ralph said that thanks to the hard work of the force economic crime unit and the London Crown Prosecution Service, police have tracked down the person responsible for dropping the leaflets through letterboxes in Ivybridge, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh in the run up to the elections on May 2.

Insp Ralph said the culprit had been given a warning but that no official action would be taken.

The offending leaflets criticised the Conservatives and encouraged people to vote for the Green Party, but did not contain the necessary imprint stating who made them.

Insp Ralph added that outside parties should avoid getting involved in future.

'It is a very unusual area of law and the people responsible may not actually have known they were doing anything wrong,' he said.

'However, by not putting an imprint on the leaflets they were breaking section 110 of the representation of people act 1983.

'The advice I would give anyone with political views is to leave the canvassing to the parties and check before distributing anything. But if you do want to publish anything for any reason, contact the Electoral Commission first.'

Section 110 of the representation of the people act 1983 states that any material which can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or procure the election of a candidate at an election must contain: the name and address of the printer of the document, the name and address of the promoter of the material and the name and address of any person on behalf of whom the material is being published.

Local Conservatives have welcomed the action and hope it will deter future outside campaigners from trying a similar stunt.

Councillor for Yealmpton Will Mumford said: 'My feeling is to run with the police advice.

'If they don't feel it is worth pressing charges or naming then I would suggest that is the best course of action. I think it is helpful to publish that he or she has been caught and warned as I have to put up with this type of intervention at pretty much every election and it may deter in the future.'

Councillor for Ivybridge Roger Croad said: 'I would concur with Will. It is unfortunate that some will always have an axe to grind and they will do it in different ways.

'It is a cross to bear for everyone in public life and it seems to me that while one would always like to see a bit of naming and shaming, the police action –or inaction – seems appropriate.'