A BY-ELECTION to replace a disgraced Wembley councillor who has been jailed for fraud is due to be held.

Vijay Shah, who represented Wembley Central on Brent Council, was jailed for 12 months in May for defrauding a transport company out of more than £50,000 while working for them as an accountant.

He has been stripped of his seat after being jailed at St Albans Crown Court, sparking a by election likely to be held next month.

Shah, 45, of Clayton Avenue, Wembley, had until Wednesday to lodge an appeal over his council seat, but has chosen not to contest the decision.

He was caught when the Kings Langley company, EJ Masters, hired a new accountant who discovered Shah had been bypassing the computer system to issue himself company cheques.

When the allegations were first made, Brent Lib Dems booted him out of the party, but he clung on to his seat as an Independent until he was sentenced.

The council has now posted a notice of the seat vacancy, inviting residents to request a by-election.