British ex-MEP admits fiddling his expenses

(LONDON) - A former British MEP pleaded guilty Thursday to fiddling 36,000 pounds (59,000 dollars, 40,000 euros) in expenses by diverting cash intended for his secretary and using it to buy fine wines and a car.

Tom Wise, 61, who was elected to the European Parliament for UKIP (the UK Independent Party) in 2004 before turning independent, now faces jail after he reversed his not-guilty plea just three days into a three-week trial.

The London court heard how Wise pretended that the 3,000 pounds in EU "secretarial assistance allowance" he received each month was for his 62-year-old researcher, Lindsay Jenkins.

But the funds were in fact diverted into a bank account he controlled, from which he paid her just 500 pounds -- keeping the rest for himself.

"He used the funds, for example, to buy a car, to purchase fine wines and pay off some of his credit card debts," said Mark Fenhalls for the prosecution.

The fraud was exposed by a British newsppaer four years ago, at which point the MEP "took steps to cancel the claim and repay the money", Fenhalls said, adding that he was "trying to minimise the trouble he was in".

Wise was ejected from UKIP over the scandal, which was first investigated by EU authorities and then British police, but continued to deny the charges of false accounting -- until Thursday, when he admitted he was guilty after all.