Disgraced ex-councillor Brian Coleman believed he was still a member of the Conservative Party due to an error – two years after he was expelled.

Mr Coleman was permanently suspended in 2013 after he was convicted of attacking Café Buzz owner Helen Michael in North Finchley.

It has since come to light that he continued to pay his membership subscription to the Finchley and Golders Green Conservatives, and as a result, was mistakenly sent a membership card.

The mix-up meant that Mr Coleman assumed he was still a member.

The error came to light after he posted a photograph of his newly-issued card on social networking site Twitter.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg then tweeted: “I can confirm Brian Coleman has not been readmitted to any local Conservative Party. He hasn’t asked. If he did, we’d refuse.”

But Mr Coleman replied saying: “You are of course misinformed”, later calling Cllr Rozenberg a “silly boy”. He then requested an apology from a Barnet blogger who questioned his membership.

In a letter sent to Mr Coleman at his home address, chairman of the Finchley and Golders Green Conservative Party Jill Summers instructed him to destroy the card.

Times Series:

She wrote: “It has come to our attention that you are continuing to pay a standing order to our association, despite your expulsion from the Conservative Party.

“Our records show a membership card was recently issued to you, in error, as a result of this standing order.

“As you have been expelled from the Conservative Party you are not entitled to become a member. The card you have is null and void and should be destroyed.

“Please find enclosed a cheque for £25 as a reimbursement of the payment you have sent to the Finchley and Golders Green Conservatives.”

Times Series:

Mr Coleman refused to comment.