A FORMER police officer who was dismissed after a “misuse of his position” in a row over a basketball is now standing as a Reform UK candidate in a council by-election.

Stuart Ball was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police in 2019 after a “ridiculous and disproportionate spat” with Sports Direct staff over a basketball which, a misconduct panel heard, culminated in him making criminal allegations against the store’s manager.

Mr Ball insisted he had not been treated fairly and the issue had been “blown out of proportion.”

Now he is hoping to be elected as the first Reform UK councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council in the by-election for the Mendip ward on July 3.

Police officer dismissed over basketball row now running as Reform UK candidate in Mendip by-election, www.mnrjournal.co.uk