Louise Haigh admits pleading responsible to 2014 prison offence | EUROtoday

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 an announcement, Haigh stated she advised police she had misplaced her cellphone throughout a mugging on an evening out in 2013 however later discovered it had not been taken.

She stated it was a “genuine mistake” however had been suggested by a lawyer “not to comment” throughout a police interview. The police then referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, she stated.

She stated she pleaded responsible to creating a false report back to police at magistrates’ court docket six months earlier than turning into an MP within the 2015 election, and acquired a discharge – the “lowest possible outcome”.

A discharge is a sort of sentence given to somebody who’s responsible of an offence however the place the court docket decides to not impose a major punishment.

Whitehall sources have advised the BBC that the transport secretary declared her discharge on appointment to the shadow cupboard when the Labour Party was in opposition.

In an announcement, Haigh stated: “In 2013 I was mugged while on a night out. I was a young woman and the experience was terrifying.

“I reported it to the police and gave them a list of what I believed had been taken – including a work mobile phone that had been issued by my employer.

“Some time later I discovered that the mobile in question had not been taken. In the interim I had been issued with another work phone.

“The original work device being switched on triggered police attention and I was asked to come in for questioning.

“My solicitor advised me not to comment during that interview and I regret following that advice.

“The police referred the matter to the CPS and I appeared before magistrates’ court.

“Under the advice of my solicitor I pleaded guilty – despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain. The magistrates accepted all of these arguments and gave me the lowest possible outcome – a discharge – available.”

Louise Haigh is a former Special Constable, a volunteer police officer with full powers of arrest who served with the Metropolitan Police until 2011.

The BBC has requested the Department for Transport to make clear the offence she pleaded responsible to and whether or not the discharge was conditional, or unconditional.