DISGRACED Lord Hanningfield has been released from prison after serving just a quarter of his sentence.

The Tory peer, real name Paul White, was spotted walking his beloved dog Jefferson on Friday afternoon, near his leafy village home in West Hanningfield, near Billericay.

He was jailed for nine months in July, for fiddling his House of Lords expenses to the value of £14,000.

Lord Hanningfield, 70, said: “I have been out of prison for a few days and I was treated very well.

“Some of the people who were in the prison were better than some of the people on the outside.

“There is much more to my side of the story, which will be revealed when I’m ready.

“This expenses situation has been going on for two-and-a-half years and I am glad it’s all over. I’m feeling OK about it all at the moment. I just want a couple of weeks to myself to relax and let everything settle down.”

Despite being jailed, he has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

He lost his seat at Essex County Council as a result of his crime and is still being investigated for alleged misuse of his corporate credit card by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

It is understood Lord Hanningfield has been released on a home curfew scheme, which involves him being electronically tagged. Details of the conditions attached to the curfew have not been revealed.

Others involved in the expenses scandal who made up the corrupt six, including former MPs Eric Illsley and Jim Devine, which rocked Parliament have also been released early.

The early-release scheme works on the basis of low risk prisoners, serving sentences more than three months, but fewer than four years, being freed with an electronic tag.

They serve half the sentence for good behaviour and can have another four-and-a-half months off – but must serve at least a quarter of the sentence.

Watchdog the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “This makes his sentence look like a hollow gesture and will do nothing to help restore public faith in Parliament.”

Lord Hanningfield served his time at the minimum security prison Standford Hill in Kent.