Constance Briscoe: Judge left penniless after jail sentence for lying to police over Chris Huhne

Ms Briscoe owes £150,000 to the taxman after being released from prison

One of Britain’s first black female judges has become penniless and is £150,000 in debt to the taxman since she was jailed for lying to police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding-points scandal, a court has heard.

Since her release from prison, Constance Briscoe, 57, has been supported by her 26-year-old son, who bailed her out by buying her flat and settling her overdraft, a judge at the Old Bailey was told.

Briscoe’s finances were laid bare when the prosecution applied for her to pay £89,246.33 in costs for the first of her two trials.

Her lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, described her income as “zero” and said she has been living with her son and 24-year-old daughter but has not claimed benefits.

She sold her £650,000 flat to her son so it could be remortgaged on an interest-only deal to raise £159,000. The money paid some of her legal fees, plus an outstanding tax bill.