Expenses cheat Chaytor 'risks more public anger with jail term appeal'

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Central Government

Former Labour MP David Chaytor has been warned that he risks provoking further public anger by appealing against his 18-month prison term for fiddling Parliamentary expenses.

Chaytor, who forged tenancy documents and invoices to falsely claim more than £22,000 of taxpayers' money for rent and IT work from the Commons authorities, was jailed on January 7.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges will hear an application by 61-year-old Chaytor at the Court of Appeal on March 22.

If the judges grant permission to appeal on that day they will go on to hear the full challenge. The prosecution will also be represented.

Matthew Sinclair, director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "David Chaytor has already cost taxpayers thousands through fraudulent expense claims.

"Taxpayers again picked up the bill when prosecutors prepared for a trial before he changed his plea to guilty.

"Chaytor risks provoking further anger if he drags out the process with an appeal, saddling us all with further costs.

"His crime was part of a scandal that hugely undermined public confidence in Parliament and a prison sentence was clearly needed for someone who ripped off the public he was supposed to serve."