Politician could get time in prison after admitting expenses scam

London: An MEP faced prison yesterday after dramatically changing his plea mid-trial to admit cheating the taxpayer over his expenses.

Tom Wise, 61, who represented Ukip before becoming an independent, diverted much of the £36,000 (Dh220,000 ) he was claiming for a secretary into a secret bank account.

Wise, then the MEP for East of England, even boasted he was "repatriating" EU money to Britain. He then spent the money on a new car, fine wines and settling his debts.

Southwark crown court was told that had his fraud not been uncovered it could have lasted five years and netted him £180,000.

Wise, of Leighton Buzzard, who was kicked out of Ukip over the scandal, had denied false accounting between October and November 2004. But just before Ukip leader Nigel Farage was to give evidence against him he began a round of discussions with his legal team.

After an overnight adjournment, the jury was discharged and the disgraced politician admitted he was guilty.

The court heard how Wise had pretended the £3,000 "secretarial assistance allowance" he received every month was for his 62-year-old researcher Lindsay Jenkins. In fact he paid her £500 and it was not until his crimes were exposed in the press four years ago that he paid the money back.

Charges against Jenkins were dropped after Wise took full responsibility. He will be sentenced next week.