Former Labour MP Jim Devine guilty over expenses fraud
Former Labour MP Jim Devine was today found guilty of fiddling his expenses.
A jury at Southwark crown court found that Devine, 57, who held a seat in the House of Commons for Livingston in Scotland, claimed almost £9,000 illegally.
Devine, of Bathgate, West Lothian, denied the charges which related to receipts he submitted for cleaning services and stationery.
He was found to have falsely claimed £3,240 for cleaning services between July 2008 and May 2009.
The MP was also found to have dishonestly claimed £5,505 for stationery from Armstrong Printing using two false invoices between March and April 2009.
The jury of six men and six women took two hours and 45 minutes to agree with the prosecution that on the two counts Devine showed a "woeful inadequacy" in abiding by the core principles expected of MPs.
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the case against Devine was "very straightforward".
The former MP made the fraudulent claims "with a view to gain for himself, or with an intent to cause loss to another - the public purse".
The prosecutor said a guide known as the Green Book was readily available to MPs and clearly set out the rules and regulations on submitting expenses that must relate to parliamentary duties.
It lists the fundamental principles MPs should adhere to when making expenses claims, Mr Wright told the court.
"These are based on concepts of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership," he said.
"We say these are qualities of which Mr Devine demonstrated a woeful inadequacy."
Speaking of the Green Book, he added: "We say it's wholly unambiguous. It couldn't be clearer."
Devine was granted unconditional bail by Mr Justice Saunders, the trial judge, and he will be sentenced in due course.
The red-faced former MP walked with a slight limp out of the dock after he was dismissed by Mr Justice Saunders.
During the trial Devine claimed his former office manager Marion Kinley paid herself more than £5,000 from his staffing allowance without his knowledge.
Commenting after today's verdict, Ms Kinley said: "Justice has been done. The jury obviously saw through Mr Devine's lies.
"For legal reasons, I will not be making any further comment at this time."
Simon Clements, head of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said: "Jim Devine submitted invoices for services that he had neither paid for nor received. In doing so, he took advantage of the trust that had been placed in him by virtue of the public office he held.
"Submitting a false invoice is plainly dishonest, regardless of why it has been done or who has done it. We say there is no excuse for such conduct and, with today's conviction, it is clear the jury agreed."
