David Chayter - Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go, do not collect £20,000 in Expenses

A month ago I wrote here of my anger at those former Members of Parliament who had disgraced themselves but even worse than that, the political process, with their expenses scandals.

Well today, the British public and the political process has had some retribution - some comeback for what was a disgraceful period in recent history.

David Chayter, a former Labour MP, had pleaded guilty for fraudulently claiming more than £20,000 in expenses and was today given a custodial sentence of 18 months.

Like Johnathan Aitken before him, he will go to jail.

A Custodial Sentence

His lawyer said he was a "broken man" who had paid a "devastating price" for the claims and asked that he be spared a jail sentence. Thankfully, this request was ignored.

Sentencing him Mr Justice Saunders said the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal had "shaken public confidence in the legislature and angered the public"

He said: "These false claims were made in breach of the high degree of trust placed in MPs to only make legitimate claims.

"These offences have wider and more important consequences than is to be found in other breach of trust cases. That is the effect they have had and will have in the confidence the public has in politicians."

The judge added that MPs' behaviour must be "entirely honest if public confidence in the parliamentary system and rule of law is to be maintained".

Mr David Chayter, please meet Mr Jonathan Aitken

He has hit the nail on the head in his judgement and the only possible conclusion therefore, was a custodial sentence.

His 18 month sentence matches that given to former Conservative MP Johnathan Aitken who was jailed for perjury back in 1999. He served 7 of those months behind bars. It's quite possible that Chayter will not serve a full sentence either. But that is for the future.

Today at least as his moves towards his new home, there will be a feeling that justice has been seen to finally be done.