Chris Huhne shifted points to wife 'without asking' - The Times (subscription)

Vicky Pryce conspired to reveal Chris Huhne's penalty points offence because she wanted voters to be aware of his "true character", jurors heard today.

Her former husband, who by 2011 was a Cabinet minister, "did not deserve to be in the position of immense responsibility", Ms Pryce told a journalist.

She conspired with Isabel Oakeshott, the Sunday Times political editor, to hatch a "Grand Plan"to get Huhne's offence in 2003 into the public domain.

At Christophers restaurant in Covent Garden Ms Pryce first told Ms Oakeshott that her former husband had "pressured" her to take his speeding penalty points, Southwark Crown Court was told this morning. Ms Oakeshott said Ms Pryce had been in a "fragile state and very upset about the break-up of her marriage".

The journalist said that Ms Pryce told her that the first she knew that Huhne had nominated her to take his speeding points was when a letter arrived confirming this.

It has been presented as a "fait accompli" Ms Oakeshott told the court.

"Clearly it had been very unpleasant, difficult and upsetting for her," Ms Oakeshott said.

She added: "Vicky Pryce is a very intelligent woman and I am sure she was aware that it was potentially an offence and I think that played on her conscience ever since."

She added that Ms Pryce was very "anxious about her fate" if she went public about the 2003 incident.

Both the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday published the story in May 2011.

Huhne, who pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice on Monday, and Pryce were subsequently interviewed by police. Ms Oakeshott also said that Ms Pryce, 60, had claimed that Huhne had given his penalty points to a member of his staff. Ms Oakeshott added that this was a "red herring".

After publication the relationship between Ms Oakeshott and Ms Pryce broke down, jurors heard. The journalist said Ms Pryce went "behind her back" and began dealing with the Mail on Sunday.

Under cross examination from Julian Knowles QC, Ms Pryce's counsel, Ms Oakeshott acknowledged that the revelation of Huhne's relationship with Carina Trimingham had "ingnited a real firestorm."

Ms Oakeshott said it was a "human tragedy" for Ms Pryce adding: "I was amazed that she was consistently on the verge of tears. It took very very little to tip her into a tearful condition. She was a broken woman."

She added that Ms Pryce's continued "beautifully presented" public appearances were like "an armour for her".

The trial of Ms Pryce, who denies perverting the course of justice in by accepting Huhne's penalty points, continues.