Further Troubles
In 1932, Gregory tried to sell Lieutenant Commander Billyard Leake a peerage for £12,000. Leake pretended to be interested, but informed the police and Gregory was arrested. Gregory could now threaten to name in court those who had bought peerages. Because he pleaded guilty (possibly persuaded to do so by the Tory Party), Gregory did not have to give evidence in court. He did, however, give interviews to the press trying to prove his innocence.
In 1933, Gregory was convicted under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 of selling honours. He was fined £50 and jailed for two months. As of 2007, he remains the only person to have been convicted under this act. The names of those who bought their peerages are still unknown. His case file was moved to the National Archives in 2002.
Read more about this topic: Maundy Gregory
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