Huhne ex-wife faces points trial (From Free Press Series)

Huhne ex-wife faces points trial

3:41am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

Chris Huhne's ex-wife Vicky Pryce is to stand trial over claims she took his speeding points after he dramatically admitted lying.

The former Cabinet minister is facing jail after finally pleading guilty to lying over who was driving his car when it was clocked speeding in March 2003.

After nearly two years proclaiming his innocence and fighting to have the case dropped, Huhne changed his plea at the start of the pair's trial at Southwark Crown Court, promptly resigning as Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh and ending what was once a promising political career.

Respected economist Pryce, 60, has already pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice by taking her then-husband's points and is expected to adopt a defence of marital coercion at the start of her trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Huhne's attempts to have the case against him thrown out can now be reported after he admitted lying on Monday, despite last week telling the court he was not guilty.

Huhne was granted unconditional bail until sentencing, but Mr Justice Sweeney warned the 58-year-old to have "no illusions whatsoever" about the sentence he could receive. Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum life prison term - but the average is around 10 months.

Allegations over the point swapping arose in 2011 after Huhne left Pryce the previous year for PR adviser Carina Trimingham, ending the couple's 26-year marriage.

After pleading guilty, Huhne immediately announced he was standing down from parliament - sparking a by-election in marginal Eastleigh that could test coalition relations to the limit.

Speaking outside court, he said: "Having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign my Eastleigh seat in Parliament, which I will do very shortly."

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said he was "shocked and saddened", but that Huhne was doing the right thing by quitting the Commons. The developments sent shockwaves through Westminster, where Huhne had been telling friends he expected to be cleared.