A MAN once chosen to lead Bournemouth University and give it ‘moral inspiration’ has been jailed in disgrace for one year.

Lord Taylor of Warwick falsely claimed £11,000 for expenses while he sat in the House of Lords. He was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

He was BU’s chancellor from 2001 until November 2006 and committed the crimes from March 2006 to October 2007.

The 58-year-old claimed the money for travel and overnight subsistence.

He told expenses’ officials his main residence was a house in Oxford – which he only ever visited twice – when he actually lived in west London.

Mr Justice Saunders said Lord Taylor lied to investigating journalists and lied during his trial.

He said: “Peers certified their claims were accurate – they were not required to provide proof. It was considered people who achieved a peerage could be relied on to be honest.”

Birmingham-born Lord Taylor was a barrister and public relations man who became the first black Conservative peer in 1996.

BU chose him as chancellor from more than 40 nominations because of his experience in law and the media, two specialist subjects at the university.

He was picked to provide ‘intellectual, moral and social inspiration’.

Lord Taylor welcomed his new role by saying he would like to help ‘increase the opportunities for private-public funding initiatives’.

The chancellor’s role is largely ceremonial. BU’s current chancellor is Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers.

A Bournemouth University spokesman said last year Lord Taylor stepped down after his five-year tenure came to an end.

He added: “We hope that today’s announcement will draw a line under this matter. The actions for which he has been convicted and sentenced do not relate to his previous relationship with the university."

Lord Taylor’s legal team handed the judge a bundle of glowing character references, including some from senior members of the Lords, about his charity work and status as a ‘role model’ to young people.

He was expected to spend his first night behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in south London.