Tuesday, June 8, 1999 Published at 16:27 GMT 17:27 UK
Aitken's downfall complete
Camera crews and photographers greeted Jonathan Aitken at court
Ex-Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is behind bars in a south London prison after he was jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Mr Justice Scott Baker sentenced him to 18 months in prison for each offence, with the two terms running concurrently.
From the dock, the former minister blew a kiss to his family who started to cry as the verdict was announced. He was later taken away to begin his sentence at Belmarsh jail near Woolwich, south London.
Aitken had spoken only briefly during the hearing. Asked to confirm his name was Jonathan William Patrick Aitken, he replied: "It is."
His QC, Sir John Nutting, told the court his client had already suffered enough.
"The fall from grace has been complete, his marriage has broken down, he has lost his home, he is one of only three people this century forced to resign from the Privy Council, he is bankrupt and his health has suffered.
Sir John said Aitken now felt "profound remorse and shame", particularly for drawing up a false witness statement for his daughter, Victoria, to sign.
The former minister's legal team later said he did not intend to appeal.
The sentence could have been far harsher. Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while perjury can be punished with a seven-year jail term.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind - who was Aitken's boss when he was defence procurement minister - attended the court to give evidence on Aitken's character.
Far from fulfilling his promise to "cut out the cancer of bent and twisted journalism", Aitken's libel action succeeded only in destroying almost every aspect of his life.
Aitken, 56, has declared himself bankrupt and claims to have only £40,000 left in the world.
His £1.5m Westminster home was transferred to his former wife as part of their divorce settlement, although he has continued to live there.
His mother, Lady Aitken, said his fortune has diminished in line with his reputation.
"It's exactly as if he's been imprisoned for the last two years. He's had everything taken away from him. He hasn't been able to make money, had no job."
"I think anybody who has had to stick through what he's had to stick through and come through it, really thinking about other people all the time, and not for one minute giving up, is terrific.
"All power to him I say. I'm so proud of him. I'm amazed at his backbone in this.
"He really is too good a man, too good a character to have to suffer all this. I know he has brought some of it on himself. Hopefully, it's just a blip, an awful blip."
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