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Vicky Pryce: I had no choice but to take Huhne points Vicky Pryce: I had no choice but to take Huhne points
(35 minutes later)
Chris Huhne's ex-wife Vicky Pryce has told a court she had "no choice" but to take his speeding points in 2003.Chris Huhne's ex-wife Vicky Pryce has told a court she had "no choice" but to take his speeding points in 2003.
Ms Pryce, 60, said when Huhne asked her to take the points she gave a "resounding no" but weeks later she received a letter addressed to her as the "nominated driver" and "exploded".Ms Pryce, 60, said when Huhne asked her to take the points she gave a "resounding no" but weeks later she received a letter addressed to her as the "nominated driver" and "exploded".
She told Southwark Crown Court he told her: "You've got to sign this now."She told Southwark Crown Court he told her: "You've got to sign this now."
Ms Pryce denies perverting the course of justice. Huhne admitted the charge on Monday and has resigned as an MP.Ms Pryce denies perverting the course of justice. Huhne admitted the charge on Monday and has resigned as an MP.
Former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Huhne and Ms Pryce, an economist, were charged over an incident in March 2003 when his car was caught by a speed camera on the M11 motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London.Former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Huhne and Ms Pryce, an economist, were charged over an incident in March 2003 when his car was caught by a speed camera on the M11 motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London.
It is alleged that between 12 March and 21 May 2003, Ms Pryce falsely informed police that she was the driver of the car so Huhne could avoid prosecution.It is alleged that between 12 March and 21 May 2003, Ms Pryce falsely informed police that she was the driver of the car so Huhne could avoid prosecution.
'What's going on?''What's going on?'
Ms Pryce, giving evidence for the first time at her trial, told the court how Huhne "announced he had been caught speeding and he had already nine points on his licence and therefore couldn't afford to take any extra points". Ms Pryce, giving evidence at her trial, said in 2003 Huhne told her he had been caught speeding but could not afford further points on his licence.
"If he took the extra points he would be disqualified from driving and that was of course at a time when he was seeking the nomination for Eastleigh [as MP]," said Ms Pryce."If he took the extra points he would be disqualified from driving and that was of course at a time when he was seeking the nomination for Eastleigh [as MP]," said Ms Pryce.
She went on: "I knew, of course, immediately that I had not driven the car and, of course, had not incurred the penalty.She went on: "I knew, of course, immediately that I had not driven the car and, of course, had not incurred the penalty.
"But also I resisted. I had absolutely no wish to take on his points because I knew full well he was a very, very fast driver and very often ignored speed limits and had brought it on himself." "But also I resisted. I had absolutely no wish to take on his points because I knew full well he was a very, very fast driver... had brought it on himself."
Ms Pryce said the couple rowed for weeks after she refused to take the points. But then a letter arrived with her named as the nominated driver, she said. Ms Pryce said the couple rowed for weeks about the issue, but then it "went quiet".
Ms Pryce said: "I exploded… and said 'what is going on?' I said 'I am not doing this, I am not signing anything, these are not my points'." Shortly after, a letter arrived with her named as the nominated driver, she said.
After leaving the letter in their hallway, a few days later she said she was called downstairs. "I exploded… and said 'what is going on?' I said 'I am not doing this, I am not signing anything, these are not my points'," Ms Pryce said.
"I went down… my husband was standing by the forms which I had just left and abandoned myself on the table," she said. After leaving the letter in their hallway, a few days later she said she was called downstairs where Huhne was standing at the table with the forms.
She said he had a pen in his hand "and was saying 'You've absolutely got to sign this [speeding ticket form] now. If you don't, the implications will be considerable. It's ridiculous you're not signing it, just sign it here'". Ms Pryce said he had a pen in his hand "and was saying 'You've absolutely got to sign this now. If you don't, the implications will be considerable. It's ridiculous you're not signing it, just sign it here'".
Ms Pryce said her name had already been filled in and she just had to give a signature.Ms Pryce said her name had already been filled in and she just had to give a signature.
She told the jury: "I looked at this and realised I had absolutely no choice. I was already nominated. It looked like a complete fait accompli for me and for him. "I looked at this and realised I had absolutely no choice. I was already nominated. It looked like a complete fait accompli for me and for him," she told the jury.
"I had been worn down over a period of time and it looked to me like it was the only thing I could possibly do... so I took the pen and signed, protesting all the time, but I did it." She said she had been "worn down" and signed despite "protesting".
'Caught with mistress''Caught with mistress'
Earlier, Ms Pryce recounted details of the couple's 26-year marriage, which ended in 2010 when Huhne told her he was having an affair with PR adviser Carina Trimingham.Earlier, Ms Pryce recounted details of the couple's 26-year marriage, which ended in 2010 when Huhne told her he was having an affair with PR adviser Carina Trimingham.
"He said, 'I have something to tell you. A newspaper has caught me with a mistress and I have to write a note to say that we are separating', or words to that effect," she told the court. "He said, 'I have something to tell you. A newspaper has caught me with a mistress and I have to write a note to say that we are separating'," she told the court.
"I was really shocked.""I was really shocked."
Ms Pryce asked him how long it had been going on, to which he replied a year and a half. Huhne told her it had been going on for a year and a half but he had not planned to tell her until their youngest son had gone to university - 18 months later.
She said Huhne said he not planned to tell her until their youngest son had gone to university - 18 months later.
He told her he had 20 minutes to write a statement, then left the house to go to the gym, she said.He told her he had 20 minutes to write a statement, then left the house to go to the gym, she said.
"At no time was there an apology or any concern about what it would mean for us," she said."At no time was there an apology or any concern about what it would mean for us," she said.
"He ran out, with us [Pryce and her son] following behind, and said, 'And don't talk to the papers'."He ran out, with us [Pryce and her son] following behind, and said, 'And don't talk to the papers'.
Greek-born Ms Pryce also told the court Huhne had pressured her into having an abortion in the 1990s because it was "bad timing". The mother-of-five, who has three children with Huhne, said some of the children have not kept in touch with him and one changed his name.
'Hurt woman' She said later descriptions of her in the press as a "scorned wife" had upset her.
Earlier, Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott gave evidence. "All I had done was be married to this person," she told the court.
Ms Oakeshott said Ms Pryce had revealed to her in 2010 - after she had separated from Huhne - that she had taken his speeding points. Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott also gave evidence.
The journalist said they discussed how Huhne's secret could become a story for the Sunday Times. Ms Oakeshott said Ms Pryce had revealed to her in 2010 that she had taken his speeding points and they href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21365966" >discussed how Huhne's secret could become a story.
"Vicky was a very, very hurt woman and she was quite clear that she felt that Chris, her former husband, did not deserve to be in the position of immense responsibility he had at that time," Ms Oakeshott told the court. Ms Pryce said she "never thought he would resign" over the points.
"I think it was very clear that she wanted to expose what she saw as his true character." She said she wanted people to know his true character.
"He had a very serious position in cabinet and somehow I felt people didn't know what he really was like," she said.
The trial continues.