Pryce Was 'Constantly Badgered' By Huhne

Chris Huhne's ex-wife told her eldest daughter he had bullied her into taking his penalty points, a court has heard.

Vicky Pryce's daughter Georgia Beesley, one of her children from her first marriage, said her mother had confided in her about the speeding offence back in 2003.

She told Southwark Crown Court how Pryce claimed Huhne "constantly badgered" her and warned she had to take the points to avoid ruining his political career.

The economist was allegedly told it would be her fault if the ex-Cabinet minister failed in his bid to become an MP if she refused and he lost his licence.

Mrs Beesley said her mother told her in late spring or early summer of 2003, when she lived nearby and they would speak once or twice a week.

Giving evidence for the defence, she said: "I remember speaking to my mother and she told me that Chris had been caught speeding and was asking her to take speeding points.

"If he had taken the points he would have lost his licence. He was very insistent that she take the points for him.

"He didn't want to lose his licence, he was standing for election and had to travel regularly to Eastleigh.

Vicky Pryce arriving at court on Monday

"And he would say to her that if she didn't take them he would not be able to drive, that he would lose his licence, and that it would be her fault if he didn't get elected."

She said her mother was "very upset, very angry", and "obviously didn't want to take the points".

Mrs Beesley said she could not remember if Pryce had asked for advice but said she "definitely told her that she should not take the points".

"I remember her saying that every conversation Chris was insisting that she took the points, that he just went on and on and said things like it wasn't a big deal and why wouldn't she do it. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't do it," she said.

Asked why she had advised her mother to refuse, Mrs Beesley said: "I was single, I didn't understand the pressures that someone could be under in a marriage.

"I did not appreciate at that time what it would be like to be living with someone constantly badgering you to do something that you know was wrong and feeling like you don't have a choice."

Pryce, 60, had claimed that Huhne, 58, nominated her as the driver without her knowledge, which meant her name was on the police documents when they arrived, the court heard.

"I know she felt pressured into signing the form," Mrs Beesley said.

Chris Huhne has admitted lying to police about the offence

The issue resurfaced again later that year anyway because Huhne was caught talking on his mobile phone while driving and was disqualified.

"Mum had to drive him whenever he needed driving," Pryce's daughter said.

"A lot of comments were made around that time, 'I have got to drive you anyway, even though I took the points'. There was quite a bit of resentment."

She said her mother was "very upset she had had to do something she really didn't want to do and the outcome was exactly the same".

"She was on her own a lot of the time, dealing with the children, holding the family together whilst Chris was often away, trying to make sure that everybody was going to be ok and it was a very emotional time and the family was the most important thing," she added.

After staunchly denying the points swap, Huhne finally admitted it last Monday - pleading guilty.

The shock move ended his political career and sparked a by-election in Eastleigh, Hampshire, after he stood down as MP.

Pryce denies perversion of the course of justice over the speeding points, arguing that her husband forced her to take them.

The court has already heard how she revealed the points swap to the press in 2011 in a bid to "nail" Huhne after he left her for another woman.

She denied waging a six-month press campaign against her ex and insisted she had only wanted to expose his wrongdoing - not ruin his career.

She also told the court she had an abortion at his behest in 1990 but had refused to do so again two years later and went on to give birth to their youngest child.

During her defence, the court heard glowing testimonials about Pryce from several high-profile figures, including former MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett.

The evidence in her trial has now finished. The jury will hear closing speeches on Tuesday and then the judge's summing up.

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