On Trial
The MP's trial, on 21 charges of fraud, theft, forgery, conspiracy to defraud, causing a false police investigation and wasting police time, lasted 68 days. Stonehouse conducted his own defence at the trial. He was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud. He was imprisoned in HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs where he complained that the prison workshop where he worked played pop-music radio stations.
He finally agreed to resign as an MP on 28 August and also as a Privy Counsellor (becoming one of only three people to resign from the Privy Council in the 20th century). The subsequent by-election was won by Robin Hodgson, a Conservative.
After his conviction, Stonehouse's wife divorced him in 1978.
Whilst in prison, his health deteriorated. He was later moved to Blundeston Prison. Stonehouse was released early from prison in August 1979 because he had suffered three heart attacks and had undergone open heart surgery in November 1978.
Read more about this topic: John Stonehouse
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