Political protestor Jonathan Elliott has been jailed after a judge refused an appeal to relax his curfew given when he disrupted the Kent County Council elections by placing stink bombs in the ballot box.

Elliott, 47, of Sydney Road, Whitstable, was given a three month curfew in May by magistrates after he admitted placing two vials in the voting box wrapped in a slip marked revolution.

He was banned from leaving his home between 9am and noon and 6pm and 10pm.

He was also ordered to pay £50 of the £100 binding over sum, £85 costs and £50 compensation to Louisa Bennett, a voting official, who became distressed after finding the capsules.

Speaking after the hearing, Elliott said he thought the sentence was “harsh” due to the suspected terrorist attack in Woolwich.

He said: “I think it was playing on the magistrates’ minds rather than my legitimate protest. But I do regret causing fear in the minds of the counters.

"I genuinely have empathy for them. I just wasn’t thinking at the time.”

Appealing his sentence at Canterbury crown court today, Elliott asked judge Nigel Van Der Bijl to relax the hours of his curfew.

But the judge warned the 47-year-old he risked having his entire sentence reviewed and decided to jail him for six weeks instead because of the severity of his offences.

The election count at the King’s Hall was delayed by several hours after police arrived and investigated the vials.

After hearing about the disruption, Elliott phoned the BBC to take responsibility for the act.

He was arrested shortly after and appeared at court the next day.

Elliott was known to magistrates before his election stunt when he lunged at a car carrying Prince Charles at the Archbishop’s enthronement in March.

He told the court he thought Prime Minister David Cameron was in the car instead.

On that appearance he was bound over for 12 months and told he would have to pay £100 if he exhibited anti-social behaviour again in that period.