A WARRANT for the arrest of bankrupt MP Jane Griffiths was issued by a Reading judge after she failed to attend a public hearing.

District Judge Henson issued the warrant at Reading County Court on Monday because Ms Griffiths had failed to turn up at the hearing, regarding her lack of co-operation with the Official Receiver.

Attempts to contact Ms Griffiths by The Times’ sister paper the Reading Evening Post failed, however her contact number was answered by a man calling himself Alan, a friend of Ms Griffiths, who said she was in France or Belgium.

She was declared bankrupt after May’s General Election for owing £29,000 in income tax and the Official Receiver was appointed.

The issuing of the warrant means the former Reading East MP could spend at least one night in prison or a police cell.

District Judge Henson adjourned the hearing until Ms Griffiths can be brought before the court.

Deputy Official Receiver Annette McQuade told the hearing at Reading County Court summonses to appear had been sent to her former Minister Street address in Reading, an address in London and her current address in Palfrey Place, Kennington, South West London.

She assured District Judge Henson: “She is aware of the hearing.”

The Official Receiver called a public examination following the non co-operation of Ms Griffiths after her bankruptcy hearing in the High Court.

She was made bankrupt following a petition by Inland Revenue for unpaid tax.

When speaking to our sister paper The Post earlier in the month she said she did not intend to appear at the hearing and would respond by letter. She said she planned to pay the sum of money and be discharged.

However, her non-appearance placed her in contempt of court, prompting the arrest warrant.

Judge Henson said: “I will issue a warrant for her arrest. The order for automatic

discharge will be suspended until she co-operates.”

A staff member in the county court office said: “Hearings are normally organised very

quickly after an arrest.”

Ms Griffiths was not answering her contact telephone numbers as The Times went to print.

The Post was able to contact Alan via a recent contact number they had been given by Ms Griffiths. He said: “As far as I know Jane and Andrew have gone abroad – either France or Belgium, I am not sure which, I would say they went in the middle or towards the end of last week.

“I have been away so I am not sure exactly. This is my home, but they have been staying here and Jane did use it as a contact address.”

He said his address was not the Palfrey Place address given in court and refused to give his surname, saying: “I am not happy about being associated with this.”

He said he knew of the bankruptcy, but had not heard about the arrest warrant.

Ms Griffiths was deselected by Reading Labour Party last year and so was unable to stand as a Labour candidate at the last election and took the decision not to stand at all.

The 51-year-old mother-of-two was paid £59,095 as an MP and received three months’ severance pay after she lost the job on May 5.

Chairman of Reading Labour Party Stuart Singleton-White said: “Reading Labour Party took an open and democratic decision to deselect Jane for a number of reasons, including financial difficulties.

“On her arrest, we have nothing to say. This is clearly a personal matter for Jane.”