Barrister guilty of lying to police over Chris Huhne scandal

Constance Briscoe is facing a further criminal investigation into allegations she fraudulently obtained documents used to defend libel claims brought against her by her own mother.

Carmen Briscoe-Mitchell, who sat in the court throughout Briscoe's recent trial, unsuccessfully attempted to sue her daughter in 2008 over claims made against her in her daughter Briscoe's 2006 memoir, Ugly.

A BBC investigation has learned Scotland Yard is now investigating claims that Briscoe may have unlawfully obtained medical documents to support her defence case.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "We were contacted in September last year regarding an allegation of fraud, which relates to documents that were allegedly fraudulently obtained from Southwark Council. The matter is being investigated by Lewisham CID."

Mrs Briscoe-Mitchell, a mother of 11, ultimately lost her libel case against her daughter over the book which accused her of sustained childhood cruelty and neglect.

Kent Police's senior investigating officer said the guilty verdict of barrister Constance Briscoe showed no-one was "above the law".

It it "almost inevitable" that barrister Constance Briscoe will serve time in jail after being found guilty of lying to police, a judge said.

Briscoe, who remains on bail, will be sentenced tomorrow at the Old Bailey from 10am.

Mr Justice Baker warned: "It's almost inevitable there will be a custodial sentence."

Briscoe was found guilty on three counts. The first charge alleged that Briscoe provided police with two inaccurate statements, and the second that she produced an altered copy of a statement but claimed it was the correct version.

A third charge alleged that she deliberately got a document expert to view the wrong version of her witness statement.

Briscoe stood trial at London's Southwark Crown Court in January but a jury failed to reach verdicts on any of the counts, after which a re-trial was ordered.

Chris Huhne labelled Constance Briscoe a "self-publicising fantasist" after the judge was found guilty of lying to police, and predicted that defendants she had prosecuted would seek a CPS review of their cases:

Constance Briscoe made no reaction in the dock as she was found guilty of lying to police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal.

The jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for around five hours before delivering the verdict on the barrister and part-time judge.

Briscoe was accused of trying to pervert the course of justice in connection with the investigation into how disgraced cabinet minister Mr Huhne passed speeding points to his then-wife Vicky Pryce a decade ago.

Briscoe, 56, who has been suspended since her arrest in October 2012, denied three counts of intending to pervert the course of public justice.

Barrister and part-time judge Constance Briscoe has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of lying to police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal.