Chris
Huhne's former wife passed the story about his speeding offence to the
press in revenge for his extra-marital affair, Southwark Crown Court
heard.
Prosecutors say Vicky Pryce took speeding points for Huhne a decade ago.The jury was read an email from 2011 - after she found out about Huhne's affair - in which Ms Pryce, 60, of London, said she wanted to "nail him".
She denies perverting the course of justice. Huhne admitted the same charge on Monday and later resigned as an MP.
Ex-Lib Dem cabinet minister Huhne and Ms Pryce, an economist, were charged last year over an incident in March 2003 when Huhne's car was caught by a speed camera on the motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London.
It is alleged that between 12 March and 21 May 2003, Ms Pryce, who was still married to Huhne, falsely informed police that she was the driver of the car so he could avoid prosecution.
'Destroy his career' The speeding offence only came to light in 2011 when Huhne told Ms Pryce he was having an affair.
"She was not only distressed but extremely angry and wanted some revenge and her revenge was to pass the story about the 2003 crime to the newspapers so that it would be published in the hope that would destroy her husband's career," said Andrew Edis, opening the prosecution case against Ms Pryce.
He said it was Ms Pryce's plan that "she would get revenge by 'putting an end to all that'".
The jury heard details of email exchanges between Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott and Ms Pryce as they discussed how they could bring about a story,
Ms Oakeshott told her a story would inflict "maximum and perhaps fatal damage on Chris", Mr Edis told the court.
Ms Pryce responded in email: "I definitely want to nail him. More than ever, I would love to do it soon."
'Worked together' Mr Edis said Huhne could not have passed his points to Ms Pryce on his own - they would have worked together.
He said both people had to "play ball", adding: "You can't actually do it on your own."
Mr Edis told the court the speeding ticket system, administered by post, was still a "course of justice" and therefore the charge of perverting the course of justice could be made.
He said a speeding offence "might not seem like a big deal, it might not seem like it really matters but ultimately it does matter". The system, he said, would not work if "everyone fiddles it".
Ms Pryce is claiming she was subject to "marital coercion" which the court heard would only be the case if she had no choice but to agree to Mr Huhne's demand to take the points.
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