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Ex-MP Devine jailed over expenses
2011-03-31 15:02:55
31 March 2011 Last updated at 12:56 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Former MP Jim Devine jailed for 16 months over expenses Devine was the first MP to stand trial over his expenses Continue reading the main story Related Stories 'He lied to cover up other lies' Bankruptcy for ex-MP Jim Devine Ex-MP Devine guilty over expenses
Ex-Labour MP Jim Devine has been jailed for 16 months for fraudulently claiming £8,385 in expenses.
Devine was last month found guilty of using false invoices for cleaning and printing work.
The ex-MP for Livingston, 57, is the third current or former MP to be jailed for fiddling their expenses, but was the first to stand trial.
The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said he "set about defrauding the public purse in a calculated and deliberate way".
He was sentenced to 16 months on each of two counts to run concurrently. He was cleared of a third count, relating to £360.
'Lying'Passing sentence at the Old Bailey, Judge Saunders said: "These offences constituted a gross breach of trust which, along with others, had had the effect of causing serious damage to the reputation of Parliament.
"Mr Devine made his false claims at a time when he well knew the damage that was being caused to Parliament by the expenses scandal but he carried on regardless."
He said cleaning and maintenance work claimed for by Devine was either not done at all or not paid for by Devine, and that invoices submitted for printing work were "entirely bogus".
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