Boris Johnson is being hauled before the courts thanks to the efforts of a former Kent student.

Marcus Ball, who is bringing the private prosecution against the Conservative Party leadership hopeful, studied at Canterbury Christ Church University.

According to his Linkedin profile, Mr Ball also ran a company in the city between 2010 and 2012 – where he lived for six years.

Mr Ball founded the #BrexitJustice fundraiser in June 2016 “to prosecute elected representatives who misconducted themselves during the Brexit referendum.”

He has since raised £282,000 of his £500,000 target to specifically bring a private prosecution against Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson was yesterday ordered to appear in court over claims he lied by saying the UK gave the European Union £350 million a week.

The favourite to succeed Theresa May as Prime Minister is accused of misconduct in public office after making the claim during the 2016 EU referendum.

Mr Ball's private prosecution received widespread criticism, including from leadership rivals such as Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart – while Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was an attack on freedom of speech.

But Labour MP David Lammy, who is campaigning for a second EU referendum, tweeted: “Boris Johnson shamefully and deliberately lied about the cost of EU membership for personal and political gain. Regardless of what happens in court, this charlatan should never be allowed to become PM.”

Mr Ball has also set up a fundraising page to pay himself a salary and expenses – which has raised £33,895.

He appears to have a history of starting up ventures – describing himself as founder / project manager of Canterbury-based C.E.G. between 2010 and 2012 on his Linkedin profile.

This is followed by an entry as founder of Ambition House, co-founder of a “habit management iPhone app” and a stint being self-employed between April 2015 and June 2016.

A Canterbury Christ Church alumni magazine from 2014, features a “Marcus Ball” who graduated with a history degree in 2012.

It says: “Since graduating, Marcus has co-founded an education company, four mobile app start-ups and a video media company. He has more than 20 people working with him, based in Canterbury.”

The summer 2011 edition of the university’s Inspire magazine cites Marcus Ball as the president of the Canterbury Enterprise Group, a student run organisation whose "mission mission is to encourage and support self-employment."

Posting a picture of Canterbury on Instagram in February, Mr Ball said he “lived in this wonderful city for six years”.

He moved to London and after the 2016 referendum his backers secured him “a flat, a bed and a team of lawyers,” according to another post on the social media site.

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