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| Chris Huhne 'constantly badgered' Vicky Pryce to take speeding points | Chris Huhne 'constantly badgered' Vicky Pryce to take speeding points |
| (30 days later) | |
| Chris Huhne's stepdaughter advised her mother, Vicky Pryce, not to take the former cabinet minister's speeding points after Pryce confided she was under pressure to do so, a court has heard. | Chris Huhne's stepdaughter advised her mother, Vicky Pryce, not to take the former cabinet minister's speeding points after Pryce confided she was under pressure to do so, a court has heard. |
| Georgia Beesley, 37, a management consultant, said Pryce told her in 2003 that Huhne said if she did not take them it would ruin his chances of winning the Eastleigh constituency seat. | Georgia Beesley, 37, a management consultant, said Pryce told her in 2003 that Huhne said if she did not take them it would ruin his chances of winning the Eastleigh constituency seat. |
| Beesley, the elder of two daughters by Pryce's first marriage, said Huhne, then an MEP, was "constantly badgering" her mother who felt "beleaguered". | Beesley, the elder of two daughters by Pryce's first marriage, said Huhne, then an MEP, was "constantly badgering" her mother who felt "beleaguered". |
| "I remember speaking to my mother and she told me that Chris had been caught speeding and was asking her to take speeding points," she told a jury at Southwark crown court. "If he had taken the points he would have lost his licence. He was very insistent that she take them." | "I remember speaking to my mother and she told me that Chris had been caught speeding and was asking her to take speeding points," she told a jury at Southwark crown court. "If he had taken the points he would have lost his licence. He was very insistent that she take them." |
| Pryce, 60, a mother of five, has pleaded not guilty to a perverting the course of justice by taking the points in 2003, on the grounds of marital coercion, claiming she was pressured into it. Huhne, 58, has admitted perverting the course of justice and is awaiting sentence. | Pryce, 60, a mother of five, has pleaded not guilty to a perverting the course of justice by taking the points in 2003, on the grounds of marital coercion, claiming she was pressured into it. Huhne, 58, has admitted perverting the course of justice and is awaiting sentence. |
| Beesley said of Huhne: "He didn't want to lose his licence, he was standing for election and had to travel regularly to Eastleigh. 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." | Beesley said of Huhne: "He didn't want to lose his licence, he was standing for election and had to travel regularly to Eastleigh. 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." |
| Her mother was "upset and angry" and Beesley had "definitely told her that she should not take the points", she said. | Her mother was "upset and angry" and Beesley had "definitely told her that she should not take the points", she said. |
| She said Huhne had nominated her mother as the driver without Pryce's knowledge. Huhne was banned from driving shortly afterwards after being caught by police talking on his mobile phone in Old Kent Road, London, and lost his licence. | She said Huhne had nominated her mother as the driver without Pryce's knowledge. Huhne was banned from driving shortly afterwards after being caught by police talking on his mobile phone in Old Kent Road, London, and lost his licence. |
| Beesley said there was "resentment" as Pryce ended up having to drive him around despite taking the points. | Beesley said there was "resentment" as Pryce ended up having to drive him around despite taking the points. |
| The court was told that when the allegations came to light in May 2011 Beesley contacted police from Athens to say she did not want to make a statement. She said she felt as if the family was being "hounded" by the press and "did not want to speak to anyone". | The court was told that when the allegations came to light in May 2011 Beesley contacted police from Athens to say she did not want to make a statement. She said she felt as if the family was being "hounded" by the press and "did not want to speak to anyone". |
| She did "not appreciate" what was going on then and that her mother had been interviewed by police as "she wouldn't really talk to me about what was going on". | She did "not appreciate" what was going on then and that her mother had been interviewed by police as "she wouldn't really talk to me about what was going on". |
| Beesley eventually made a statement in September 2012. | Beesley eventually made a statement in September 2012. |
| Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said: "You said that she was upset and angry about taking the points. You did not say she was frightened." | Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said: "You said that she was upset and angry about taking the points. You did not say she was frightened." |
| Beesley replied: "No, I did not say that she was frightened. I think she was frightened about the effect that this would have on the family, what it would do to the children, and being told that the reason he had not got elected was all her fault." Asked why she had advised her mother not to take the points, she said: "I was single. I did not understand the pressure someone could be under in a marriage. I did not appreciate what it could be like to live with someone constantly badgering you to do something you know is wrong and not feel like you have a choice." | Beesley replied: "No, I did not say that she was frightened. I think she was frightened about the effect that this would have on the family, what it would do to the children, and being told that the reason he had not got elected was all her fault." Asked why she had advised her mother not to take the points, she said: "I was single. I did not understand the pressure someone could be under in a marriage. I did not appreciate what it could be like to live with someone constantly badgering you to do something you know is wrong and not feel like you have a choice." |
| Pryce had told the jury that she was presented with a "fait accompli, that the form had already been filled in and Huhne made her sign it as he stood by the hallway table with a pen in his hand. | Pryce had told the jury that she was presented with a "fait accompli, that the form had already been filled in and Huhne made her sign it as he stood by the hallway table with a pen in his hand. |
| Beesley told the court Pryce had not told her that detail. | Beesley told the court Pryce had not told her that detail. |
| The jury has heard that in a defence of marital coercion, the husband has to be "physically present" when the offence is committed. | The jury has heard that in a defence of marital coercion, the husband has to be "physically present" when the offence is committed. |
| Pryce had previously told the court Huhne had been happy to take on two stepchildren, and treated all the children equally, giving away both Beesley and her sister when they got married. | Pryce had previously told the court Huhne had been happy to take on two stepchildren, and treated all the children equally, giving away both Beesley and her sister when they got married. |
| Beesley was the final witness in the case. The jury will hear prosecution and defence closing speeches, and the judge's summing upon Tuesday. | Beesley was the final witness in the case. The jury will hear prosecution and defence closing speeches, and the judge's summing upon Tuesday. |
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