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| Former Ukip MEP jailed for five years over £500,000 expenses fraud | Former Ukip MEP jailed for five years over £500,000 expenses fraud |
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| A former Ukip MEP who campaigned to clean up sleaze in Brussels has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of falsely claiming almost £500,000 in expenses. | A former Ukip MEP who campaigned to clean up sleaze in Brussels has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of falsely claiming almost £500,000 in expenses. |
| Ashley Mote was elected to represent the south east of England in the European Parliament in 2004 but was suspended by Ukip shortly afterwards when the party discovered he was facing separate charges for benefit fraud. | Ashley Mote was elected to represent the south east of England in the European Parliament in 2004 but was suspended by Ukip shortly afterwards when the party discovered he was facing separate charges for benefit fraud. |
| He was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today after being found guilty of 12 fraud-related offences in May. At the time a Ukip spokesperson said the party was "astonished" the case had taken so long, adding: “Justice must be done and justice must be seen to be done.” | He was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today after being found guilty of 12 fraud-related offences in May. At the time a Ukip spokesperson said the party was "astonished" the case had taken so long, adding: “Justice must be done and justice must be seen to be done.” |
| The offences, which included fraud, acquiring criminal property and false accounting, took place between 2004-2010. | The offences, which included fraud, acquiring criminal property and false accounting, took place between 2004-2010. |
| He had claimed he was paying people who were "whistleblowers". Mr Mote has already served a nine-month prison sentence after being convicted of benefit fraud in 2007, with a judge describing him as "a truly dishonest man". Despite being sent to prison he remained as an Independent MEP until 2009. | He had claimed he was paying people who were "whistleblowers". Mr Mote has already served a nine-month prison sentence after being convicted of benefit fraud in 2007, with a judge describing him as "a truly dishonest man". Despite being sent to prison he remained as an Independent MEP until 2009. |
| Mr Mote was suspended less than six weeks after being elected as a Ukip MEP - failing to mention to his colleagues that he was facing charges in court over alleged housing benefit fraud. |