A local election candidate has apologised after being caught on CCTV removing his rivals' campaign leaflets from a post box.
David Wickerson, an Independent councillor, was posting his own election material at a house in Swaffham when he was filmed on a doorbell camera reaching into the letter box and taking out a Conservative document.
The footage - which has been posted online by the householder - then shows Mr Wickerson walking away with it.
In a statement on Facebook, the councillor - who is standing in the Swaffham ward for Breckland Council at next week's election - apologised for what he called "an error of judgement".
He said he was only removing the leaflet - promoting Conservative rivals Paul Darby, Leanne Smart and Jacob Morton - to read it because he had not received a copy himself.
“I had every intention of replacing the leaflet but was momentarily distracted by a friend helping me with distribution, requesting an additional supply of leaflets," he added.
Mr Wickerson said he apologised “unreservedly” to the homeowner, his two fellow Independent Swaffham candidates and the people of the town.
He also called Mr Darby to apologise.
Mr Wickerson told this newspaper it was a "genuine mistake".
"If someone has suggested it is something I have done before, the answer to that is 'no', of course I haven't."
He was canvassing in the town's Swan's Nest estate when the incident occurred.
The householder whose leaflets he removed from a letterbox said: “It was quite a shock, I had my bank statements in there.
“He’s said he was distracted by someone calling his name but on the CCTV you cannot see a colleague anywhere. He just walked off with my mail.
“He was rummaging around. It was an invasion of my personal space. It’s definitely not on.”
The resident said he considered the incident to be theft but did not plan to press charges.
In a statement, the three Conservative candidates said Mr Wickerson’s actions were “undemocratic”.
They wrote that they were "very disappointed", adding: “It is a great shame that Mr Wickerson has chosen to abandon the concept of honesty and fair play (which we have upheld) and engage in such poor tactics.
“We believe this demonstrates a shocking lack of judgement."
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