A WEMBLEY councillor who abused his position as an accountant to defraud a delivery firm has been jailed.

Councillor Vijay Shah was this morning sentenced to 12 months in prison for abusing his position as accountant for E J Masters to steal more than £50,000.

The 45-year-old, of Clayton Avenue, Wembley, admitted at St Albans Crown Court all 11 counts of fraud committed against the Kings Langley firm in 2007.

The councillor, who represents Wembley Central, was booted out of the Lib Dems following his arrest last year, and now faces expulsion from the council because of the length of his sentence.

Under council rules, anyone jailed for more than three months will automatically lose their seat triggering a by-election.

However, Cllr Shah has 28 days to appeal against his sentence before he is expelled from office.