A former Ukip Scotland chair suspended from the party for 100 years for speaking to the media has had the ban overturned in court.

Judge Taylor said the sanction imposed on Paul Henke was "unlawful" and said current party chair Steve Crowther had not acted proportionately.

The row began after six of the nine candidates shortlisted by Ukip Scotland for the European election resigned over infighting.

David Coburn was eventually declared the winner in the disputed poll.

The farce prompted 10 party members to make a formal complaint about a series of false statements they claim Coburn had made.

Speaking to the Sunday Herald at the time, Henke, a 63-year-old thriller writer, said: "I expect the complaint to be investigated properly. I believe Ukip to be an up-front party run by honourable people. We should have honourable people as candidates."

The statement prompted Crowther to email Henke, writing: "This is to inform you that I am today suspending your membership of the party for a period of 100 years ... As a signatory of the complaint against our Scottish candidate which has been passed to the Sunday Herald, and having given your opinion on that subject to the Sunday Herald last week, you have brought the party into disrepute, and appear to be engaged in deliberately sabotaging our election campaign in Scotland."

Henke pursued legal action and had his case heard at Central London County Court on Thursday.

After listening to legal arguments, the judge said Crowther had "showed no due regard to proportionality" and declared the ban "null and void".

Green councillor Maggie Chapman said: "Given Ukip's divisive, intolerant policies it is little wonder that they are riven with hate and distrust of each other. Such public displays of chaos will ring alarm bells with voters looking for a credible alternative."

Ukip did not respond to a request for a comment.