Enlarge imageLONDON (Reuters) - A former deputy to Mayor of London Boris Johnson was given a suspended jail sentence on Tuesday for "flagrantly and arrogantly" misusing his expenses.
Ian Clement, 44, had admitted using his City Hall corporate credit card to buy lunches for himself and his lover while claiming he had been meeting leaders of local councils.
Clement was given a 12-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, the Press Association reported.
He was ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid community work and to abide by an overnight curfew for 12 weeks.
Judge Quentin Purdy told Clement the offences had "cost you dear and will haunt you for some years to come."
He said Clement had "flagrantly and arrogantly" abused public money to indulge himself with meals.
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Clement resigned from his 127,000 pound-a-year post at the Greater London Authority as Johnson's deputy mayor for external relations in June.
Clement admitted three offences between November 20 and 28 last year. He had claimed for the cost of three lunches where he said he had separately entertained the leaders of Enfield, Barnet, and Kensington and Chelsea councils.
But police discovered he had in fact shared two of the meals with his lover Claire Dowson and one with a female public relations executive.
The total cost of the three meals claimed was 156.70 pounds.
His lawyer said Clement was now struggling to pay his mortgage, had little money and could not find work.
Outside the court Clement apologised.
"I very much regret and indeed am truly sorry for my actions. These have let down many good people -- my family, my friends and colleagues including, and not least, the Mayor of London."
(Reporting by Tim Castle)
