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Ex-MEP Peter Skinner jailed for expenses fraud | Ex-MEP Peter Skinner jailed for expenses fraud |
(35 minutes later) | |
An MEP who dishonestly claimed about £100,000 in expenses with a "sustained pattern of stealing" has been jailed for four years. | An MEP who dishonestly claimed about £100,000 in expenses with a "sustained pattern of stealing" has been jailed for four years. |
Peter Skinner, 56, who was Labour MEP for the South East from 1999 to 2014, was found guilty of three charges after a trial at Southwark Crown Court. | Peter Skinner, 56, who was Labour MEP for the South East from 1999 to 2014, was found guilty of three charges after a trial at Southwark Crown Court. |
He claimed thousands of pounds for support staff, which actually funded jewellery, restaurants and hotel stays. | He claimed thousands of pounds for support staff, which actually funded jewellery, restaurants and hotel stays. |
Sentencing Skinner, of Snodland, Kent, the judge said he had abused trust. | Sentencing Skinner, of Snodland, Kent, the judge said he had abused trust. |
The politician made fraudulent payments of £10,000 a month to his wife from December 2007 until July 2009. | The politician made fraudulent payments of £10,000 a month to his wife from December 2007 until July 2009. |
This entitled him to claim secretarial or parliamentary assistance allowance. | This entitled him to claim secretarial or parliamentary assistance allowance. |
'Damaged public trust' | 'Damaged public trust' |
He also created a fake letter claiming his father was working for him, to justify his payments of £5,000 every three months, his trial heard. | He also created a fake letter claiming his father was working for him, to justify his payments of £5,000 every three months, his trial heard. |
In total Skinner claimed £480,000 in expenses, about £100,000 of that was fraudulent. | In total Skinner claimed £480,000 in expenses, about £100,000 of that was fraudulent. |
Kent Police said he bought a Land Rover Discovery for his ex-wife, and paid for a honeymoon to the United States and Hawaii for his second marriage. | Kent Police said he bought a Land Rover Discovery for his ex-wife, and paid for a honeymoon to the United States and Hawaii for his second marriage. |
During sentencing, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, said: "You were trusted by the public and you abused that trust. | During sentencing, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, said: "You were trusted by the public and you abused that trust. |
"You have not only damaged public trust in individual parliamentarians but also in the democratic institution itself. | "You have not only damaged public trust in individual parliamentarians but also in the democratic institution itself. |
"This was a breach of trust of the worst kind - this was a sustained pattern of stealing from the taxpayer." | "This was a breach of trust of the worst kind - this was a sustained pattern of stealing from the taxpayer." |
He was found guilty of one count of making a false instrument, one count of fraud and one count of false accounting. | He was found guilty of one count of making a false instrument, one count of fraud and one count of false accounting. |
He now faces a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. | He now faces a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. |
A Labour spokesman said: "Peter Skinner has clearly not upheld the high standards we would expect of an elected representative, he is no longer a member of the Labour Party." | |
At the scene: Piers Hopkirk, BBC South East Today | At the scene: Piers Hopkirk, BBC South East Today |
Smartly dressed in a grey suit, former South East MEP Peter Skinner showed no emotion as he was sentenced to four years in prison. | Smartly dressed in a grey suit, former South East MEP Peter Skinner showed no emotion as he was sentenced to four years in prison. |
The judge, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, said she accepted the prosecution's figures that the 56-year-old had defrauded the European Parliament of thousands. | The judge, Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, said she accepted the prosecution's figures that the 56-year-old had defrauded the European Parliament of thousands. |
As he arrived at Southwark Crown Court for sentence this morning I asked him if he had anything to say to the people who had voted for him. | As he arrived at Southwark Crown Court for sentence this morning I asked him if he had anything to say to the people who had voted for him. |
He said: "Obviously I have some worries about public trust in politicians but that is all I can say." | He said: "Obviously I have some worries about public trust in politicians but that is all I can say." |
Asked if he was worried about going to prison he did not answer. | Asked if he was worried about going to prison he did not answer. |
Correction: This article has been amended to clarify the proportion of expenses fraudulently claimed | Correction: This article has been amended to clarify the proportion of expenses fraudulently claimed |