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Chris Huhne 'constantly badgered' Vicky Pryce to take speeding points Chris Huhne 'constantly badgered' Vicky Pryce to take speeding points
(about 1 hour later)
Chris Huhne's ex-wife confided in her eldest daughter that he had forced her to take his speeding points, a court has heard.Chris Huhne's ex-wife confided in her eldest daughter that he had forced her to take his speeding points, a court has heard.
Georgia Beesley, 37, a management consultant, said Vicky Pryce spoke to her in 2003: "I remember speaking to my mother and she told me that Chris had been caught speeding and was asking her to take the speeding points. He didn't want to lose his licence. He was standing for election and had to travel regularly to Eastleigh."Georgia Beesley, 37, a management consultant, said Vicky Pryce spoke to her in 2003: "I remember speaking to my mother and she told me that Chris had been caught speeding and was asking her to take the speeding points. He didn't want to lose his licence. He was standing for election and had to travel regularly to Eastleigh."
Her mother was "upset and angry", and did not want to take the points, she said. "We spoke about how she felt and what was happening at home and I remember her saying that every conversation Chris was insisting that she took those points.Her mother was "upset and angry", and did not want to take the points, she said. "We spoke about how she felt and what was happening at home and I remember her saying that every conversation Chris was insisting that she took those points.
"He would say to her that if she didn't take them he would not be able to drive, that he would lose his licence, and that it would be her fault if he didn't get elected. I know she felt pressured into signing the form." Her mother had felt "beleaguered", she added."He would say to her that if she didn't take them he would not be able to drive, that he would lose his licence, and that it would be her fault if he didn't get elected. I know she felt pressured into signing the form." Her mother had felt "beleaguered", she added.
Pryce, 60, from Clapham, south London, has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice by taking Huhne's speeding points. Her defence is of marital coercion.Pryce, 60, from Clapham, south London, has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice by taking Huhne's speeding points. Her defence is of marital coercion.
Huhne, 58, a former energy secretary, has pleaded guilty to the offence and is awaiting sentence,Huhne, 58, a former energy secretary, has pleaded guilty to the offence and is awaiting sentence,
Southwark crown court heard that Beesley, and her sister Alexandra, Pryce's daughters from her first marriage, were close to Huhne, who had raised them as his daughters and walked them down the aisle at their weddings.Southwark crown court heard that Beesley, and her sister Alexandra, Pryce's daughters from her first marriage, were close to Huhne, who had raised them as his daughters and walked them down the aisle at their weddings.
At the time of the speeding offence he was an MEP and seeking the Liberal Democrat nomination as MP for Eastleigh.At the time of the speeding offence he was an MEP and seeking the Liberal Democrat nomination as MP for Eastleigh.
The court heard Beesley declined to make a statement to police when it began an investigation into the speeding allegations in May 2011. She later made a statement in September 2012.The court heard Beesley declined to make a statement to police when it began an investigation into the speeding allegations in May 2011. She later made a statement in September 2012.
Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, asked why Beesley had advised her mother not take the points. "I was single, I didn't understand the pressure that someone could be under in a marriage," she said. "I did not appreciate at that time what it would be like to be living with someone constantly badgering you to do something that you know was wrong and feeling like you didn't have a choice."Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, asked why Beesley had advised her mother not take the points. "I was single, I didn't understand the pressure that someone could be under in a marriage," she said. "I did not appreciate at that time what it would be like to be living with someone constantly badgering you to do something that you know was wrong and feeling like you didn't have a choice."
She said of her mother at the time: "She was on her own a lot of the time, dealing with the children, holding the family together while Chris was often away, trying make sure that everybody was going to be OK and it was a very emotional time and the family was the most important thing."She said of her mother at the time: "She was on her own a lot of the time, dealing with the children, holding the family together while Chris was often away, trying make sure that everybody was going to be OK and it was a very emotional time and the family was the most important thing."
Beesley said her mother had not told her that Huhne had stood in the hallway "pen in hand" when he made her sign the form confirming that she was the driver of the car.
Beesley was the final witness in the trial. The jury are expected to hear closing speeches on Tuesday.Beesley was the final witness in the trial. The jury are expected to hear closing speeches on Tuesday.