Louise Haigh admits pleading responsible to 2014 prison offence
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has admitted pleading responsible to a prison offence referring to a police investigation over a cell phone she claimed was stolen.
In a press release, Haigh mentioned she instructed police she had misplaced her telephone throughout a mugging on an evening out in 2013 however later discovered it had not been taken.
She mentioned it was a “real mistake” however had been suggested by a lawyer “to not remark” throughout a police interview. The police then referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, she mentioned.
She mentioned she pleaded responsible to creating a false report back to police at magistrates’ courtroom six months earlier than turning into an MP within the 2015 election, and obtained a discharge – the “lowest potential end result”.
A discharge is a kind of sentence given to somebody who’s responsible of an offence however the place the courtroom decides to not impose a major punishment.
Whitehall sources have instructed the BBC that the transport secretary declared her discharge on appointment to the shadow cupboard when the Labour Occasion was in opposition.
In a press release, Haigh mentioned: “In 2013 I used to be mugged whereas on an evening out. I used to be a younger lady and the expertise was terrifying.
“I reported it to the police and gave them an inventory of what I believed had been taken – together with a piece cell phone that had been issued by my employer.
“A while later I found that the cell in query had not been taken. Within the interim I had been issued with one other work telephone.
“The unique work gadget being switched on triggered police consideration and I used to be requested to come back in for questioning.
“My solicitor suggested me to not remark throughout that interview and I remorse following that recommendation.
“The police referred the matter to the CPS and I appeared earlier than magistrates’ courtroom.
“Beneath the recommendation of my solicitor I pleaded responsible – regardless of the actual fact this was a real mistake from which I didn’t make any achieve. The magistrates accepted all of those arguments and gave me the bottom potential end result – a discharge – out there.”
Louise Haigh is a former Particular Constable, a volunteer police officer with full powers of arrest who served with the Metropolitan Police till 2011.
The BBC has requested the Division for Transport to make clear the offence she pleaded responsible to and whether or not the discharge was conditional, or unconditional.
