MacShane faces jail over expenses fraud

DISGRACED former Rotherham MP Denis MacShane has admitted fleecing taxpayers out of almost £13,000 by fiddling his Parliamentary expenses.

MacShane (65) pocketed £12,900 for research and translation services that he did not actually use between 2005 and 2008.

The ex-MP, now of Westmoreland Terrace, Kensington, submitted 19 bogus invoices in a three-year scam.

He appeared at the Old Bailey today when he spoke only to confirm his name and plead guilty to a single count of false accounting.

Adjourning sentence, the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, told MacShane: “I’m going to adjourn sentence until the suggested date of December 19.

“You will be on unconditional bail in the interim.

“You will understand clearly I'm sure that all sentencing options remain open to the court.”

MacShane quit as an MP last November, the day after the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee recommended he be suspended for a year over his expenses claims.