Devine was the first MP to stand trial over his expenses Ex-Labour MP Jim Devine has been jailed for 16 months for fraudulently claiming £8,385 in expenses.
Devine was last month found guilty of using false invoices for cleaning and printing work.
The ex-MP for Livingston, 57, is the third current or former MP to be jailed for fiddling their expenses, but was the first to stand trial.
He was found guilty on two counts, but cleared of a third count, relating to £360.
Devine had denied “wholly deliberate deceit” in submitting his Commons expenses, claiming he was advised by another Labour MP and by expenses officials at the Commons Fees Office, that he was allowed to use money in his communications allowance to cover staff costs.
He said he did not benefit personally from the claims.
But the prosecution said his actions were “plainly dishonest” and he “took advantage of the trust that had been placed in him by virtue of the public office he held”.
At the sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey, prosecuting barrister Peter Wright QC said Devine had been guilty of massive abuse of public trust and damage to public confidence.
In mitigation, Devine’s lawyer said the fraud had been “entirely out of character” and prison would “bear heavily on him” as he suffers high blood pressure and has lost his reputation as well as his 30-year political career.
Two former Labour MPs have already been sentenced for fiddling their Parliamentary expenses. Eric Illsley is serving 12 months in jail, while David Chaytor received a sentence of 18 months.
Earlier this month, Mr Chaytor lost an appeal to have his sentenced reduced.
Devine was declared bankrupt last month, following a separate hearing at Livingston Sheriff Court.
The insolvency order was made after he failed to pay his former office manager Marion Kinley £35,000 for unfair dismissal.
Last year an employment tribunal heard how he bullied Miss Kinley and made up stories to justify firing her.
During his expenses trial, Devine claimed Miss Kinley paid herself more than £5,000 from his staffing allowance without his knowledge by forging his signature – an allegation his legal team now concedes was not true.
After February’s verdict, Ms Kinley said: “Justice has been done.”
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