A FORMER charity director has announced he plans to stand in this year's Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

David Hayes was wrongly diagnosed with cerebral palsy at five-years-old, but nearly 50 years later doctors discovered his condition was a congenital deformity of the knee and hip.

Mr Hayes, who was the former national vice chairman of Scope and liaised with police on disability and equality, underwent a series of operations and is now living pain free and taking up a new challenge.

He said: "For a child who couldn't stand up until he was five and didn't get into education until eight, I'm now standing up and running for Police and Crime Commissioner.

"I don't want the focus to be on my disability, I want to focus on people with mental health problems and disabilities. I have worked closely in the past with police for 15 years making them aware of disability in the community, and I want people to know I have got the bottle to challenge the police if they get things wrong."

The elections for the role take place in May, and candidates are still coming forward, including former police officer Mike Pannett, who will also stand as an independent. Julia Mulligan is also standing again for the Conservatives.

Mr Hayes, who now works with undergraduates at York St John University, said his past experience dealing with a £100m budget at Scope and his history with North Yorkshire Police would help him if he were to gain the role on the independent ticket.

He said: "I don't want people thinking I'm just a yes man working for the police.

"I don't like political links, don't feel the police should be locked to a political party. I think Julia Mulligan has done a good job as the first commissioner as she stood up to the Home Office and stopped some cuts but I think it's time for a change."