Disgraced Essex peer wins case against Essex Police

9:53am Friday 15th February 2013 in Local News By Gina Marden

Disgraced Essex peer wins case against Essex Police Disgraced Essex peer wins case against Essex Police

A DISGRACED peer has successfully sued Essex Police for unlawfully arresting him.

Former Tory peer and leader of Essex County Council, Lord Hanningfield won £3,500 in damages.

He sued the county's force for unlawful arrest and trespass after officers raided his home at dawn in an investigation over his County Hall expenses.

Lord Hanningfield, real name Paul White, was arrested on September 14, 2011, just five days after being released from prison after serving nine weeks of a nine-month jail term for fraud relating to his Parliamentary expenses.
 

Comments(47)

TheCaptain says...
10:36am Fri 15 Feb 13

Disgraceful

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howwhy says...
10:43am Fri 15 Feb 13

Congratulations.He had paid for his crime,but alas Essex Police wanted more than that.Essex Police are there to uphold the LAW,not to make or break the law which is becoming more evident.The only downside to this is that the Police will have to pay.Does that really matter to them when the money comes from the taxpayer.

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TheCaptain says...
11:20am Fri 15 Feb 13

howwhy wrote:
Congratulations.He had paid for his crime,but alas Essex Police wanted more than that.Essex Police are there to uphold the LAW,not to make or break the law which is becoming more evident.The only downside to this is that the Police will have to pay.Does that really matter to them when the money comes from the taxpayer.
He fiddled parliamentary expenses and was jailed. This was the investigation into fiddling county expenses that he got away with. So no he didn't pay for the crime.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
11:44am Fri 15 Feb 13

Lets see if Paul White will keep these damages or donate them to charity which he confirmed he would do on television, if he won.

Whatever the outcome of this, he remains a disgraced, dishonest Peer of the realm and should be stripped of his peerage. But he won't be because he, like most politicians, have no scruples when it comes to honesty and truth.

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Boris says...
11:52am Fri 15 Feb 13

Say It As It Is OK? wrote:
Lets see if Paul White will keep these damages or donate them to charity which he confirmed he would do on television, if he won.

Whatever the outcome of this, he remains a disgraced, dishonest Peer of the realm and should be stripped of his peerage. But he won't be because he, like most politicians, have no scruples when it comes to honesty and truth.
Ok the police were out of order so they must pay. Damages of 1p would be about right.

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Checkout says...
12:46pm Fri 15 Feb 13

A bit too much Boris.

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eurodoomed says...
1:04pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Lord Hanningfield's mistake was not to be a Liberal MP like David Laws, who was not even prosecuted, and incredibly, is now back in Government, or the former Labour MP who recently claimed to be clinically depressed, so got away with it.
By all means prosecute fraudsters, but that means all of them, even if they are Labour or Liberal.

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Wicky1 says...
1:40pm Fri 15 Feb 13

So he gets compensated £3,500 for **** taxpayers money away...

£ 9,396 on flights to the US for himself and a council officer and £4,614 on flights to Shanghai
£3,840 for five people to stay at the four-star Norfolk Royale, Bournemouth (length of stay not specified)
£2.89 at a noodle bar in Mumbai
£61.95 on "books for travel"
£217.54 on dinner for two in Brussels
£230 on a day at Goodwood racecourse
£1,180 for accommodation for three people at Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa in Hampshire (length of stay not specified)
£467 for dinner for Lord Hanningfield and two other lords at Gordon Ramsey restaurant in London
£18.99 charger for his phone
£2,000 on food, travel and accommodation during the Labour Party conference
£540.25 dinner at 15 in Cornwall (Jamie Oliver restaurant)
£518.25 for dinner the following night at Seafood, Padstow (Rick Stein's restaurant)
£736 Christmas lunch in Chelmsford for council officers
£8,051 flights to CGLF conference for Lord Hanningfield and officer (destination unspecified)
£23.27 for lunch at Thelma and Louise cafe in Sydney
£538.78 House of Lords dinner for borough mayor, LH and two others
£3.06 drinks claim while on US trip
£120 accommodation for chauffeur, in King's Lynn, Norfolk

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GentleGiant says...
2:52pm Fri 15 Feb 13

If someone is wrongly arrested then they should have the right to defend that.

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Wicky1 says...
3:11pm Fri 15 Feb 13

From what I can make out the Council didn't want to prosecute despite...

"There has been much use of corporate cards exceeding the authority's guidelines for use and travel and subsistence policy.""

"In publishing logs of his credit card spending, the council confirmed Lord Hanningfield had been able to sign off his own spending."

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-en
gland-essex-20337917

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Wicky1 says...
3:13pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Forgot to add

£107 on drinks for four in Hot Springs, USA
£544 drinks bill for one month in House of Lords
£5,274.51 on accommodation in India

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Boris says...
4:01pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Checkout wrote:
A bit too much Boris.
Sadly, the ½p was abolished years ago.
.
Anyway, he is going to give the award to charity, isn't he?

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Cosmo Spring says...
4:11pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Boris wrote:
Checkout wrote:
A bit too much Boris.
Sadly, the ½p was abolished years ago.
.
Anyway, he is going to give the award to charity, isn't he?
The Ale and Pie Club

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firedog says...
4:31pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I have heard he will be giving a violin concert,he has had so much practice at fiddleing.

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Carnabackable says...
5:11pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Wicky1 wrote:
So he gets compensated £3,500 for **** taxpayers money away...

£ 9,396 on flights to the US for himself and a council officer and £4,614 on flights to Shanghai
£3,840 for five people to stay at the four-star Norfolk Royale, Bournemouth (length of stay not specified)
£2.89 at a noodle bar in Mumbai
£61.95 on "books for travel"
£217.54 on dinner for two in Brussels
£230 on a day at Goodwood racecourse
£1,180 for accommodation for three people at Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa in Hampshire (length of stay not specified)
£467 for dinner for Lord Hanningfield and two other lords at Gordon Ramsey restaurant in London
£18.99 charger for his phone
£2,000 on food, travel and accommodation during the Labour Party conference
£540.25 dinner at 15 in Cornwall (Jamie Oliver restaurant)
£518.25 for dinner the following night at Seafood, Padstow (Rick Stein's restaurant)
£736 Christmas lunch in Chelmsford for council officers
£8,051 flights to CGLF conference for Lord Hanningfield and officer (destination unspecified)
£23.27 for lunch at Thelma and Louise cafe in Sydney
£538.78 House of Lords dinner for borough mayor, LH and two others
£3.06 drinks claim while on US trip
£120 accommodation for chauffeur, in King's Lynn, Norfolk
Sounds like a bargain... more speed cameras please, the pot is only half full, quality doesn't come cheap, nor does a quality member of the big house.

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Ritchie_Hicks says...
5:15pm Fri 15 Feb 13

GentleGiant wrote:
If someone is wrongly arrested then they should have the right to defend that.
I agree.

He's still a shyster though.

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mirokou says...
6:51pm Fri 15 Feb 13

This mans moral compass is so f*****, he doesn't know which way to face.
liar thief and cheat , not lible because he has been convicted of such an offence.

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Goonerboy says...
7:09pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I have nothing but contempt for this man however in this case I am on his side. I cannot understand why the police feel the need to carry out ' dawn raids' in instances such as this . I am sure if they telephoned him and asked him to attend his local police station at a given time then he would comply. This seems to be a favourite tactic of the police. He is unlikley to flee so common sense should prevail . Once in custody feel free to throw the book at him

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firedog says...
7:16pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Goonerboy wrote:
I have nothing but contempt for this man however in this case I am on his side. I cannot understand why the police feel the need to carry out ' dawn raids' in instances such as this . I am sure if they telephoned him and asked him to attend his local police station at a given time then he would comply. This seems to be a favourite tactic of the police. He is unlikley to flee so common sense should prevail . Once in custody feel free to throw the book at him
Because he would shread all the evidence before he attended the police station

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paulatepc says...
8:38pm Fri 15 Feb 13

This man should not be allowed back into the House of Lords.

A national disgrace.

Anyone else found guilty of such fraud would not be allowed to be a school governor or on any other similar position of public responsibility. Why will be allowed back to the Lords?

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wellnow says...
8:39pm Fri 15 Feb 13

They were all in it up to their necks.bet on it.

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wellnow says...
8:39pm Fri 15 Feb 13

They were all in it up to their necks.bet on it.

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Joker50 says...
7:53am Sat 16 Feb 13

No one is going to think any more of him if he gives the money to charity so he might as well keep it.

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soul man says...
8:36am Sat 16 Feb 13

he's a money grabbing ponce and a crook, his sort are what mp's are really about, lying and corruption

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TheEqualizer1 says...
2:55pm Sat 16 Feb 13

He is a very nice bloke and quite a kind a caring person. I wish all of you would leave him alone and let be.
As for Essex Police this is not the first or last time wrongful arrest and mis use of public service office has occurred it is just that Paul White had the guts and the power to take them to task.
Well done for that.
Barker-McCardle and Nick Alston have their work cut out for them.
Remember The Sandon Dog Scandal and the Balls Up at White House Farm..Mud sticks I am afraid...
They spend too much of their time watching their mates on digi crap tv in the gun Volvo Cars eating M&M's Taking the mick out of the public...
It is about time someone brought them down many pegs.
Good On you Paul...++++

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John Vencato says...
2:59pm Sat 16 Feb 13

I have nothing but praise he is a lovely chap.
He sent my mum and dad 2 lovely and caring letters.
I agree with the above post.
Live and now let live and leave the man alone.
I can think of many worse than Mr White.
This site is bordering on bullying now, the Gazette should start screening posts!!!!

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paulatepc says...
3:31pm Sat 16 Feb 13

John Vencato wrote:
I have nothing but praise he is a lovely chap.
He sent my mum and dad 2 lovely and caring letters.
I agree with the above post.
Live and now let live and leave the man alone.
I can think of many worse than Mr White.
This site is bordering on bullying now, the Gazette should start screening posts!!!!
..probably very true, maybe a very caring and nice man - however, its not about being lovely - but being honest in public service and dealing with public money.

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Druggie Scumbag says...
4:19pm Sat 16 Feb 13

It's nice to see that the bent peer has some supporters. Personally I can see nothing but an unrepentant self-pitying fakir.

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stopmoaning1 says...
5:53pm Sat 16 Feb 13

One would assume that if the police believe or suspect somebody may have committed a crime they are entitled to arrest that person in order to question them and gather any evidence. This was clearly the case here as he was arrested for a different matter from the one he was in prison for. Surely the Council must have provided information that at least made him a suspect as I don’t think somebody in the police would suddenly wake up one day and think, ‘I know, lets go and arrest that Hanningfield bloke again’
There is obviously much more than this than meets the eye. Only £3500 for effectively taking away somebody’s liberty. I don’t think so

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mileend says...
7:22pm Sat 16 Feb 13

paulatepc wrote:
This man should not be allowed back into the House of Lords.

A national disgrace.

Anyone else found guilty of such fraud would not be allowed to be a school governor or on any other similar position of public responsibility. Why will be allowed back to the Lords?
Maybe he could join the new Police and Crime panel like Councillor Tim Young another convicted CRIMINAL who ran over a Police officer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-england-ess
ex-20454045
Amazing how politicians seem to bounce back !

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John T Pharro says...
9:50pm Sat 16 Feb 13

paulatepc wrote:
John Vencato wrote:
I have nothing but praise he is a lovely chap.
He sent my mum and dad 2 lovely and caring letters.
I agree with the above post.
Live and now let live and leave the man alone.
I can think of many worse than Mr White.
This site is bordering on bullying now, the Gazette should start screening posts!!!!
..probably very true, maybe a very caring and nice man - however, its not about being lovely - but being honest in public service and dealing with public money.
Absolutely right. It was not one offence either was it? In particular people in public position should set a good example he doesn't. It is about time a law was passed where anyone found guilty of a criminal act like this should loose their peerage. There rightly is no sympathy for Huhne, but at least he resigned. This man has displayed to me no remorse for what he did and seems to think he was hard done by.

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John T Pharro says...
9:52pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Druggie Scumbag wrote:
It's nice to see that the bent peer has some supporters. Personally I can see nothing but an unrepentant self-pitying fakir.
Don't like your post name, but fully agree.

Report this post »

stopmoaning1 says...
11:43pm Sat 16 Feb 13

John Vencato wrote:
I have nothing but praise he is a lovely chap.
He sent my mum and dad 2 lovely and caring letters.
I agree with the above post.
Live and now let live and leave the man alone.
I can think of many worse than Mr White.
This site is bordering on bullying now, the Gazette should start screening posts!!!!
are you is brother?

Report this post »

stopmoaning1 says...
10:30am Sun 17 Feb 13

stopmoaning1 wrote:
One would assume that if the police believe or suspect somebody may have committed a crime they are entitled to arrest that person in order to question them and gather any evidence. This was clearly the case here as he was arrested for a different matter from the one he was in prison for. Surely the Council must have provided information that at least made him a suspect as I don’t think somebody in the police would suddenly wake up one day and think, ‘I know, lets go and arrest that Hanningfield bloke again’
There is obviously much more than this than meets the eye. Only £3500 for effectively taking away somebody’s liberty. I don’t think so
Looks like I am right. I have just read the BBC’s report which gives the WHOLE story. It seems the judge did NOT say the arrest was unlawful but questioned the necessity. I guess that’s why the compensation amount is so (relatively) low
Quite a different story from the half baked Echo one.

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mechanic7 says...
12:10pm Sun 17 Feb 13

The arrogance of the man is unbelievable.
He is still saying on TV that he has done no wrong even though he was jailed for his previous crime.
He should be banned from the House of Lords but while there are other Politicians just as bad as him they will all stick together

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Gay Ray says...
4:10pm Sun 17 Feb 13

The noble peer has my full support. I think he has been made a scapegoat purely due to his sexuality. Friends who have provided discreet services have described him as a good guy.

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Say It As It Is OK? says...
5:41pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Gay Ray wrote:
The noble peer has my full support. I think he has been made a scapegoat purely due to his sexuality. Friends who have provided discreet services have described him as a good guy.
He doesn't have my full support although I understand Paul White, whilst being incarcerated himself, was known for his accommodating approach to helping others get through ordeals of the prison system!

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wellnow says...
12:19pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Well there we go again we learn something new every day.he now appears to be a wrongly arrested gay dogooder.shame on us all.
I wonder what president this has set for the levison and j saville fall out?

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wellnow says...
12:19pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Well there we go again we learn something new every day.he now appears to be a wrongly arrested gay dogooder.shame on us all.
I wonder what president this has set for the levison and j saville fall out?

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maxell says...
1:19pm Mon 18 Feb 13

the reason saddles took so long because LPW has had all the money from the coffers

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Alekhine says...
3:15pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Say It As It Is OK? wrote:
Gay Ray wrote: The noble peer has my full support. I think he has been made a scapegoat purely due to his sexuality. Friends who have provided discreet services have described him as a good guy.
He doesn't have my full support although I understand Paul White, whilst being incarcerated himself, was known for his accommodating approach to helping others get through ordeals of the prison system!
I thought he was known for dropping the soap.

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Gay Ray says...
3:23pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Alekhine wrote:
Say It As It Is OK? wrote:
Gay Ray wrote: The noble peer has my full support. I think he has been made a scapegoat purely due to his sexuality. Friends who have provided discreet services have described him as a good guy.
He doesn't have my full support although I understand Paul White, whilst being incarcerated himself, was known for his accommodating approach to helping others get through ordeals of the prison system!
I thought he was known for dropping the soap.
My understanding is that the ignoble lord is, in these matters, rather ironically normally a giver and not a receiver. I hope that puts matters 'straight'.

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Jess Jephcott says...
4:53pm Mon 18 Feb 13

If the noble lord has been wrongfully arrested then shouldn't he receive the justice that is due to him? More to the point, the people of this country have been let down by him and I would demand that this is sufficient grounds for him and all other criminal peers to lose their titles and place in the House of Lords.

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John T Pharro says...
6:04pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Gay Ray wrote:
The noble peer has my full support. I think he has been made a scapegoat purely due to his sexuality. Friends who have provided discreet services have described him as a good guy.
The "discreet services" were they the 4 that stayed with him in the hotel in Bournemouth that cost £3840 or other hotels that Wicky1 quoted? Just asking!!

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basildon1988 says...
3:41pm Tue 19 Feb 13

There is a good article exploring the Hanningfield case here: http://lawscapeuk.bl
ogspot.co.uk/2013/02
/lord-hanningfield-u
nlawfully-arrested.h
tml

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basildon1988 says...
3:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13

There is a good article exploring the Hanningfield case here: http://lawscapeuk.bl
ogspot.co.uk/2013/02
/lord-hanningfield-u
nlawfully-arrested.h
tml

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Altravista says...
9:39pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Didn't the crooked ex-lord also pay an exotically-named (young, male) "researcher" about £1,000 per month for a time? Sur eI swa this in the papers a while back. What on earth was he doing in Cornwall or Australia or Hampshire, apart from spending Essex council taxpayers' money? Appalling. And £2,000 for expenses during the LABOUR party conference? Was he there trying to convert them like some sort of Tory missionary? I think the Essex police have every right to arrest him for theft and/or fraud but the case has mysteriously been dropped, WHY???

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