A FORMER Worcestershire MEP falsely claimed thousands in travel expenses for journeys to the European Parliament by car when she had flown more cheaply, a court has heard.

Ex-UKIP politician Nikki Sinclaire, who represented the entire West Midlands until 2014, has appeared in court for allegedly submitting "significant" bogus or inflated expense claims.

A jury was told that in one case Sinclaire would have needed a car that could "travel back in time" based on the receipts she is accused of handing in.

Antonie Muller, prosecuting, said Sinclaire submitted 10 false claims through "dishonesty and deception" rather than in error.

Speaking at Birmingham Crown Court, he said that in another claim Sinclaire claimed she had driven from Solihull to Stoke-on-Trent when she was in Cyprus.

The prosecution produced a Hilton hotel receipt from Nicosia alleged to show Sinclaire buying a Kit-Kat, a drink and "some hairdressing" on the same day.

Mr Muller said: "She claimed she travelled 127 miles (to Stoke) when you know she hadn't even been in the country."

Opening the prosecution's case in what is scheduled to be a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Muller said: "This is a case about a member of the European Parliament, an elected official, making false and dishonest claims for travel expenses during her office.

"Specifically, during the period in the latter part of 2009 to the summer of 2010.

"We contend, and I believe it is not really disputed, these claims are probably false and do not reflect the travel expenses that were actually incurred.

"Neither do they they represent the forms of travel actually taken."

He told the jury she had either claimed for travel which had "not been undertaken at all" or claimed for "significantly higher sums" than she was due by claiming to have used a car.

The 47-year-old, of Shirley near Birmingham, is accused of misconduct in a public office between October 2009 and July 2010 while a serving member of the European Parliament by making or causing to be made false or dishonest claims for travel expenses.

Sinclaire, on bail, denies all the charges and the trial continues.