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At the Old Bailey for the sentencing of Festus and @FionaOnasanyaMP. Sentence expected later today. 
Interesting exchange just now...
Prosecution: She was a participant from the outset. It was a crime committed by both (her and Festus) but solely for her benefit.
Judge: “that would be totally out of character for her”
Prosecution: She was a participant from the outset. It was a crime committed by both (her and Festus) but solely for her benefit.
Judge: “that would be totally out of character for her”
Here's my notes of the prosecution's summary of Festus Onasanya and @FionaOnasanyaMP's previous convictions / character
Prosecution summary now complete.
Defence about to start outlining reasons for mitigation in sentence.
Defence about to start outlining reasons for mitigation in sentence.
Festus's barrister: He has taken reasonable and realistic approach. He knows he’s going to prison immediately.
Judge on Festus: I am confronted by a person who went straight between 2014 and 2017. I do not draw any inference between the person he was in 2014 and now. The character evidence you've given me speaks of a person who has changed considerably.
Judge, in conversation with Festus's barrister, giving a preview of his sentencing remarks: "as has been said on countless occasions it will be only the most exceptional case where a custodial sentence is not applied."
Judge just indicated he is thinking of a sentence in region of 12 months for Festus
Judge says he accepts Fiona's characterisation of chaos around the time speeding ticket was received. Says Jury definitely found she knew she was pervertig course of justice when she spoke to police investigator 1/2
But that it is unclear that she was fully aware of what was going on earlier when she sent a letter to police when they first queried the name on the speeding ticket that was returned to police 2/2
Fiona Onsanya's barrister referring to the WhatsApp group message in which she compared herself to Jesus:
"This was an expression by her of her feelings at that time in the cold light of her conviction. That was leaked by a fellow MP."
"This was an expression by her of her feelings at that time in the cold light of her conviction. That was leaked by a fellow MP."
Fiona Onasanya's barrister: She can't remember if she was driving, although she accepts that she may have been driving, and she still accepts that she may have been driving.
Fiona Onasanya's barrister: this was an unsophisticated offence that was bound to be found out
Judge: it was a plan with a prospect of success, but for the investigator’s vigilance.
Judge: it was a plan with a prospect of success, but for the investigator’s vigilance.
Fiona Onasanya's barrister: Why on earth [would she]put everything, and I mean everything, at stake for the sake of three penalty points?
This, from Fiona Onasanya's barrister, won't go down well with the public...
"She continues to act as an independent MP because thi is her only source of income"
"She continues to act as an independent MP because thi is her only source of income"
Fiona Onasanya's barrister: it is highly likely that after today's sentencing hearing, regardless of sentence, she will lose her seat as an MP.
Judge to Fiona Onasanya's barrister on suggestion of suspended sentence: "I'm in difficulty."
"If she wasn't an MP or wasn't in a position of responsibility, she would go inside. It's not one law for those in a position of power, and another for those who are not,"
"If she wasn't an MP or wasn't in a position of responsibility, she would go inside. It's not one law for those in a position of power, and another for those who are not,"
Fiona Onasanya's barrister: The fact she will no longer be able to work in either of her chosen professions is something the court will take into consideration.
Judge: On the one hand I have authorities telling me should face an immediate jail sentence, on the other hand I have extremely strong personal mitigation.
Mitigation over, judge retiring to consider verdict.
Sentencing expected about 1240. Judge expects it will take about 20mins.
Just for extra context/clarity, the judge here was suggesting that the fact she is an MP should make **no difference** to the sentence he hands down.
By my maths, @FionaOnasanyaMP has been paid about £8,900 from her MP's salary since her conviction last month.
Called back into court, awaiting the judge. He'll deliver his verdict shortly.
Judge in court, starting sentencing
Judge: It is a tragedy that you find yourselves here, but it is a tragedy you have brought upon yourselves
Judge: you, Mr Onasanya, filled out the form using the names of people you knew hadn't been driving.
Judge: I am told, Fiona Onasanya, that you do not accept the correctness of the jury's verdict.
Judge: I have reached my own conclusions about your actions, which I believe to be consistent with the case and the verdict of the jury
Judge: having heard the evidence I am sure Ms Onasanya was driving the Nissan Micra
Judge: in any normal circumstances it would be incredible if you didn't realise you were driving when you received the speeding ticket. But these weren't normal circumstances. You had just been elected to Parliament and didn't have an office in Westminster or Peterborough
Judge: on all of the evidence you were leading a life that was extremely hectic and pretty chaotic.
Judge: what matters is that I am not sure that you passed the speeding ticket to your brother with the intention, expressly or otherwise, of perverting the course of justice.
Judge: I sentence Festus on the basis that you were trying to avoid speeding points for yourself, not for your sister. There was no conspiracy between the two of you at the outset.
Judge: Fiona's letter of reply to police was inaccurate but needs to be seen in context that you'd just been released from hospital after MS diagnosis
Judge: although you, as a solicitor and MP, should have taken responsibilities more seriously, I am not sure you sent the letter with the intent to prevent the course of justice.
Judge: by the time you met a police investigator, you knew that you were providing information that you knew to be untrue. You deliberately committed the offend of which you are convicted.
Judge: that was a disastrous decision.
Judge: it is an aggravating feature that you both persisted with dishonest course.
Judge: coming form you, evidence that you didn't know what you were doing, as a qualified solicitor is incredible and I reject it
Judge: there are no sentencing guidelines for this sort of offence. But it will only be the most exceptional of case that does not result in an immediate sentence of imprisonment.
Listening to the judge summing up, both Fiona and Festus are staring straight ahead, expressionless, as they await their sentence.
Judge refers to case law where judge in similar case to Fiona's passed immadete custodial sentence, but one that was "as short as possible"
Judge refereeing to Huhne and Price. "On any view the fact of that case were more serious than those in this case. It was a serious and flagrant offence."
Judge now addressing Festus: if you were not here you would be on the cusp of a happy persiod, both in terms of your musical career and your personal life
Judge to Festus: guilty plea entitles youbto a reduction of 15%
Judge now addressing Fiona: by Nov 2017 you knew what was going on and took the disastrous decision to stand by the false information that had been supplied by your brother.
Judge: what takes your case out of the ordinary is your personal mitigation. This offence is totally out of character. It involved a misplaced loyalty your brother. You have risen to a great height not for personal advancement but to fight for social justice.
Judge: you have been an able parliamentarian and a role model to young black women by your achievements.
Judge: but the fact remains as a solicitor and MP you knew the consequences of failing to uphold the law.
Judge: You have let down not just yourself but your profession and your Parliament.
Judge: I am satisfied that I **can suspend the sentence**
Judge: on the one hand there is strong personal mitigation, on the other hand there are cases that say the only appropriate sentence is an immediate custodial sentence
FESTUS ONASANYA SENTENCED TO 10 MONTHS IN JAIL
BREAKING: Fiona Onasanya sentenced to immediate jail sentence of 3 months
Fiona and Festus Onasanya now being led away to begin jail sentences
This means (unless she resigns in the meantime) there will be a Recall Petition in Peterborough. If 10% of electorate (about 7,000) people sign it, there will be a by-election.
Fiona Onasanya becomes the first female MP ever to be sent to jail.
Obviously (see below) he chose not to....
Response from @UKLabour. Onasanya was expelled from the party immediately following her conviction
Separate statement from Fiona Onasanya's local Labour Party in Peterborough
And the Conservative Party's response to the sentence:
And from UKIP, this response:
My assessment for @BBCNews of what happens next after @FionaOnasanyaMP's sentencing.
Full story here: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…
Full story here: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…
