Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce have each been jailed for perverting the course of justice over three speeding points.

Chris Huhne, 58, and Vicky Pryce, 60, from Clapham, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court this afternoon.

Huhne, former MP for Eastleigh, in Hampshire, was handed a eight-month jail term.

The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, told Huhne "he tried to lie yourself out of trouble”.

Pryce has also been sentenced to eight months in prison.

The Liberal Democrat former MP, who twice challenged for the party's leaderhip, admitted perverting the course of justice after his ex-wife took points for him when he caught speeding in March 2003.

Pryce, who lives in the marital home in Clapham, was found guilty of the same offence last Thursday, but had originally denied the charge on the grounds of marital coercion.

Her hearing followed a retrial after a jury failed to reach a decision in an earlier trial last month.

The original offence took place in March 2003 when Huhne's car was caught by a speed camera on the motorway between London and Stansted Airport.

Between March and May 2003, Ms Pryce falsely informed police she was the driver of the car so Huhne could avoid prosecution.

Speaking outside the court after he admitted the offence in February, Huhne said: "I pleaded guilty today.

"I am unable to say more while there an outstanding trial.

"But having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign my Eastleigh seat in Parliament."

Huhne’s resignation triggered a by-election which was held by the Liberal Democrats.

Official sentencing guidelines on the Crown Prosecution Service's website state that concealing evidence, under a charge of perverting the course of justice, is punishable with a prison sentence of between four months and 18 months.