MPs' expenses Jim Devine

on 2 june 2009, devine referred labour party s star committee status of urgent in connection allegations involving expense claims submitted company never existed. had gained backing of local party members week prior hearing, panel unanimously recommended should deselected. thereafter barred standing candidate labour party in next uk general election.

prosecution , conviction

on 5 february 2010 announced devine prosecuted on expense claims. former livingston mp faced 2 charges under section 17 of theft act 1968 of false accounting. first charge alleged between july 2008 , april 2009 devine dishonestly claimed £3,240 cleaning services using false invoices. second charge alleged in march 2009 devine dishonestly claimed £5,505 stationery using false invoices. denied charges, though in live channel 4 interview when questioned: got receipt paying member of staff, , submitted stationery? journalist krishnan guru-murthy, devine replied: yes. allowed @ time.

on 27 may 2010 devine, elliot morley, david chaytor , lord hanningfield (paul white) appeared @ southwark crown court preliminary hearing. faced charges of false accounting under theft act.

devine s trial began on 2 february 2011. indictment faced included 3 counts of false accounting under theft act 1968. on 10 february 2011 found guilty on 2 counts of false accounting (relating false claims total of £8,385) not guilty on count (relating £360). sentencing adjourned 4 weeks. on 31 march 2011 devine sentenced 16 months imprisonment. released prison on 1 august 2011 after serving quarter of sentence. freed under home detention curfew scheme, under prisoners deemed pose low risk tagged , released after serving @ least quarter of sentence. release met anger groups including taxpayers alliance.

as result of conviction , sentence, devine automatically expelled labour party.