TORY peer Lord Hanningfield – being probed for allegedly fiddling his county council expenses – is suing Essex Police.
A writ lodged at the High Court shows he seeks damages of £3,000 for unlawful arrest and detention, £1,500 for trespass and a further £2,000 to cover his expenses and legal fees.
Hanningfield, 71, is still being probed over allegations he fraudulently claimed expenses while he was leader of the council.
His solicitor Mark Spragg, of Keystone Law, said: “It’s not about the money for my client, it’s about a point of principle. We are suing for a nominal fee.”
Hanningfield remains on bail while police continue to probe his expenses. He was released from jail in September after serving nine weeks of a nine-month sentence for fiddling parliamentary expenses.
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