Profile: Humiliation for lecturer who turned to politics

However his backbench career crumbled as he was caught up in the expenses scandal.

The former Bury North Labour MP and Yorkshire councillor became a lightning conductor for public anger after he was accused of claiming money for a mortgage he had already paid off.

The charges sparked a firestorm of public humiliation that culminated in his guilty pleas at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Several days after he was charged with fraud, Chaytor claimed it is "not in my nature to roll over and die" and he would fight for a fair hearing.

He attacked the media for making "outlandish claims" and suggested his "extremely complex" personal circumstances would refute the allegations.

But nine months later, in the face of overwhelming evidence built on a haul of incriminating paperwork Chaytor held up his hands to fraud.

Chaytor was elected to represent his home town – the marginal Bury North seat – in 1997 after twice standing unsuccessfully in Calder Valley.

He took the seat in his Lancashire birthplace as Tony Blair swept to power and held it until he stood down, after being suspended by Labour, earlier this year.

Born and brought up in the town, he was educated at Bury Grammar School before moving south temporarily to attend the University of London.

He graduated from Royal Holloway in 1970, but his studies continued later with a post-graduate certificate in education from Leeds University in 1976 and gaining an Master of Philosophy at the University of London in 1979.

Chaytor, who is married with three children, also served as a councillor in Calderdale for 15 years until he became an MP. Before his election he held senior posts at the Manchester College of Arts and Technology and Manchester College of Education. He served on two Select Committees during his time at Westminister.