Former Labour MP Margaret Moran wept in court on Monday as she faced charges of abusing her parliamentary expenses.
The former MP for Luton South stood accused of committing 15 counts of false accounting and six of forgery in order to illegally claim £80,000.
Among the charges was the allegation that she had "flipped" her designated second home to a property owned by her partner in Southampton, miles from Westminster or her constituency, in order to file a £22,500 claim to treat dry rot.
She was also said to have illegitimately claimed expenses for the furnishing and improvement of her main home between November 2004 and August 2008 through a scheme intended for the maintenance of second homes.
And it is alleged that she submitted forged invoices in support of some of her claims.
Moran did not enter a plea when she appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court but has always maintained her innocence. Due to the complexity of the case and the amount of money involved it has been referred to Southwark Crown Court.
The former MP stood down from parliament in 2010 after being suspended from the Labour Party.
She was also caught on film in 2010 by undercover journalists from the Sunday Times allegedly offering to help a lobbying company get legislation changed in exchange for money.
Moran is one of seven parliamentarians who have appeared in court over allegations of abusing the parliamentary expenses system.
Former Labour MPs Eric Illsley, Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor have all been jailed. Conservative peers Lord Taylor of Warwick and Lord Hanningfield have also sent to prison for similar offences.