Former Labour MP David Chaytor has started an 18 month gaol sentence after pleading guilty to falsifying his expenses claims. He admitted three charges of false accounting at a hearing last month and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.
The court heard he attempted to obtain more than £22 000 by submitting a false invoice for IT services and claiming rent for homes owned by his family.
I doubt many will have sympathy for him- it's blatant stealing and he used his position of trust and privilege, particularly after he tried to weasel out of it. He initially denied making any fraudulent expenses claims after allegations were made against him by a national newspaper. However, after failing to obtain a ruling that his case should be dealt with by parliament instead of the criminal courts, he decided to plead guilty.
Five other parliamentarians are set to face trial over unrelated expenses claims, but all deny any wrongdoing and intend to plead not guilty.
Let's hope they are equally sentenced if found guilty.
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